Sinabung Eruption has Profound Effect on Local Economy
30 June 2015 10:00 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The volcanic eruption material from Mount Sinabung has devastated local economy, particularly on agriculture and plantation sector. In total, there were 46,935 hectares of field and plantation damaged due to the catastrophe, with the biggest impact on chili (1,701 hectares) and orange (1,177 hectares) commodity.
"The total damage from the two sectors reached Rp817 billion," said head of the Center for Data and Information of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
Until recently, Mount Sinabung still displayed high volcanic and seismic activities. On Monday, June 29, there have been 67 landslides, 38 hybrid and tremor quakes. There were also events of eruption and pyroclastic cloud flow heading southeast for 3,000 meters.
"Potentially, Sinabung eruption might last for some time,’’ said Sutopo.
Furthermore, total refugees now hit 3,150 households or 10,645 persons. Among the group, there are 780 elder people, 76 pregnant women, 220 babies, and 747 children under five – all notably are vulnerable group.
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID
