Mount Agung in Bali Highly Active, Thousands Seek Refuge
14 December 2018 13:19 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) stated that the number of refugees continues to increase as the result of the increasing volcanic activity of Mount Agung, Bali.
According to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, BNPB's Head of Data Center for Information and Public Relations, there are currently 1,259 out of 49,485 evacuees from the disaster-prone area. “Even though local leaders have yet to announce an official evacuation, many initiate to evacuate themselves,” he said Thursday, Sept, 21.
Sutopo expected that the number of refugees will continue to raise considering that the complete official data has not been reported to the Bali BPBD.
Read: Quake Activity Increased Mount Agung in Bali on Alert
The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) previously urged the people staying in the area affected by the disaster to evacuate. Head of PVMBG Kasbani announced that the affected area is predicted to cover a six-kilometer radius from the peak of Mount Agung, which should be completely sterilized from any human activity.
Mount Agung is still showing signs of high-intensity volcanic activity. Officials recorded 563 volcanic earthquakes and eight shallow quakes on Wednesday while on Thursday, 144 volcanic quakes and 10 shallow quakes occurred.
Mount Agung in Bali is officially in its Level III status.
FAJAR PEBRIANTO