TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Nusa Tenggara Disaster Mitigation Agency head H Muhammad Rum said that the number of Mt. Agung evacuees to Lombok has increased.
He explained that based on the latest data the number of refugees up to Sunday (8/10) has reached 105 families or 376 people. The number was 54 families or 161 people four days ago.
"Hundreds of refugees are spread across Mataram City, West Lombok Regency, North Lombok Regency, and East Lombok Regency. But most of them displace to Mataram," he continued.
He added that the evacuees from Bali have been coming since Mt. Agung located in Karangasem Regency was announced entering the highest alert on Friday (22/9).
They gradually came to Lombok. Some entered through Lembar harbor in West Lombok Regency, and some even took a boat from Bali to North Lombok Regency.
The evacuees, Rum added, did not stay on refugee posts, but they stay in their relatives’ houses with reasons of safety and convenience.
"We welcome the evacuees to stay in shelters we have provided. And yet they chose to stay at their relatives’ houses," he added.
ANTARA