TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi stated that the government has taken steps to address the cold lava flood disaster in West Sumatra province. Jokowi has ordered the head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to immediately visit the affected areas to coordinate relief and recovery efforts.

After visiting Konawe Hospital in Konawe Regency, Southeast Sulawesi Province on May 14, the President said he was closely monitoring the development of the flooding in Tanah Datar Regency, West Sumatra.

"I want to go there as well, but we are still working on the timing because there are many roads affected by landslides there, and arrangements for evacuation are still being made," he said.

The government wants to help and provide solutions for those affected, the president said.

Cold lava flash floods struck West Sumatra on Saturday, May 11, as a result of heavy rains in the upstream area of Mount Marapi. The four regencies most affected by this disaster were Agam, Tanah Datar, Padang Panjang, and Padang Pariaman.

As of Tuesday morning, the BNPB reported that 50 people had died in the cold lava floods and landslides in West Sumatra.

The disaster, which affected six regencies and cities, also injured 37 people and displaced 3,396. The highest death toll was in Agam Regency with 20 victims and in Tanah Datar Regency with 19 deaths. There were also two deaths in Padang Panjang Regency, eight in Padang Pariaman Regency, and one in Padang City.

BNPB chief Suharyanto said on May 14 that the death toll could rise as search and rescue operations were still ongoing.

DANIEL A. FAJRI

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