TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Head of Public Relations for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said that the number of victims that perished from the recent eruption of Mount Sinabung in Karo Regency, North Sumatra has increased to six people. According to Karo Regency's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) on Sunday, May 22, 2016, the number of victims that injured by the hot ash clouds from the eruption has risen to nine people.
Sutopo said that the perished and injured victims - all of which are residents of Gember village in Karo's Simpang Empat district - are currently located at Efarina Etahan Kabanjahe Hospital. "Out of the nine victims, six have perished while three others are currently being treated for burns," said Sutopo through a press statement received by Tempo on Sunday, May 22, 2016.
According to Sutopo, the victims were at the red zone when Mount Sinabung began to erupt on Saturday, at 16.48 Western Indonesia Time (WIB). The victims that perished have been positively identified as Karman Milala (60), Irwansyah Sembiring (17), Nantin Br. Sitepu (54), Leo Perangin-angin, Ngulik Ginting, and Ersada Ginting (55).
The injured victims that are currently being treated for burns are Brahim Sembiring (57), Cahaya Sembiring (75), and Cahaya Br. Tarigan (45).On Saturday, the number of victims stood at seven - with three casualties and four suffering from burns.
Sutopo said that a joint search-and-rescue (SAR) team - consisting of Indonesian Army (TNI), National Police (Polri), the National SAR Agency (Basarnas), and local volunteers - are still searching for other victims that might be injured or killed by the eruption. The exact number of Gamber village residents that were in the red zone when the eruption occurred is still unknown - as Gamber village is located in the red zone and although the vast majority of its' residents have been relocated to other locations in the safe zone, many insisted on returning for economic reasons.
Gamber village is located within a four kilometre radius of Mount Sinabung's crater. The Centre for Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency (PVMBG) has classified the area as unsafe for habitation since October 31, 2014 - and as such, there should have been no activities in the area for safety reasons.
Other villages that has been included in the red zone include Kuto Tonggal, Gurukinayan, and Berastepu. 4,967 residents of these villages will be relocated in the second phase of the operation.
DANANG FIRMANTO
