Govt to Permanently Vacate Villages Near Mount Ruang

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least two villages near Mount Ruang in Tagulandang District, Siau Islands Regency, Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro), North Sulawesi, will be permanently vacated. Governor of North Sulawesi, Olly Dondokambey, said the decision was made during the meeting with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) on Thursday, May 2.

The two villages are Laingpatehi and Pumpente. Olly said he has coordinated with the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture and the Minister of State Secretary for the relocation of the villagers. 

“They have agreed with the relocation,” Olly said in the BNPB's YouTube streaming.

The villagers will be moved to Likupang and South Mongondow Island. According to Olly, the locations are about a three-hour drive from Manado City and safe from the impact of the volcano eruption.

The local government also researched the locations in terms of the community's background, from ethnicity to socio-cultural values. “They are all Siau people there,” said Olly. The Siau people are the indigenous people of the Siau Islands and the surrounding islands.

While the relocation has been decided, Olly did not elaborate on the details of when and how the relocation will take place.

Hendra Gunawan, head of the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Center (PVMBG), supported the decision to permanently relocate residents of villages around the Ruang volcano because the areas are dangerous.

According to him, Mount Ruang has erupted frequently since the 1800s, spewing hot clouds that could damage villages and nearby areas.

ALIF ILHAM FAJRIADI

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