Yogyakarta Prepares for Merapi Eruption Mitigation amid Covid-19 Pandemic

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) is preparing mitigation measures on the chances that Mount Merapi will erupt during the pandemic; particularly on how to ensure physical distance between the people during evacuation processes and in shelters.

Mount Merapi's status has not changed still at level 2 or 'Alert'. But the Yogyakarta Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center (BPPTKG) predicted that the next eruption cycle of Mount Merapi is getting closer.

During the 'Merapi Decade 2010' event that was broadcast online on October 26, the BPPTKG said that Merapi has kept showing volcanic activities since the June 21st eruption. The electronic distance measurement (EDM) data shows that there is inflation on Mount Merapi, indicating its next eruption cycle is nearing.

"This is an early warning for us all to start preparing for the possibility of an eruption," Yogyakarta Province secretary Kadarmanta Baskara Aji said on Sunday, November 1.

Mitigation measures will be adjusted to Covid-19 protocols, especially in shelters; such as determining the maximum capacity to ensure that people will maintain physical distancing during evacuation.

"We don't want a new cluster emerging from the Merapi disaster mitigation," he remarked.

Aji believes that there is still enough funds allocated for Merapi-related events, available in the Sleman Regency and Yogyakarta Province regional budgets, if the volcano actually erupts whilst the Covid-19 pandemic has not ended.

Aji said that the remaining miscellaneous budget in 2020, including the funds to mitigate the eruption of Merapi, amounts to Rp66 billion. For 2021, the unexpected fund allocation is more than Rp90 billion.

Also Read: Mount Merapi Erupts Twice on Sunday

PRIBADI WICAKSONO (CONTRIBUTOR)