Bali Authorities Warn Hikers to Stop Secretly Climbing Mt. Agung

TEMPO.CO, Karangasem - Bali Police Deputy Chief Brigadier General I Gede Alit Widana warned foreign tourists to stop hiking to the top of Mount Agung considering that the three kilometer-high mountain is in its critical phase.

“I ask tourists to adhere to the warnings of our officers and the Indonesian Government, considering that Mount Agung is still very hazardous and don’t secretly climb the mountain through footpaths that we are unable to monitor,” said Alit Widana at Mount Agung’s monitoring post on Friday, December 1.

Read: Bali Volcano Mount Agung Shows Decrease in Activity Today

His warning was to avoid unwanted situations where authorities would have difficulties to conduct evacuation since such routes are located in a thick forest. Police have prepared 3,000 personnel that are ready to assist any possible evacuation scenario.

Bali authorities have prepared several evacuation routes if the worst case scenario happens, such as the northern Bali that heads to Buleleng district, and the Bali's western route that heads to Bangli district and Klungkung. Police have also readied two other evacuation routes in southern and eastern Bali.

Following the mandate of zero casualties by President Joko Widodo, the authorities call on the residents who are remaining to stay at the danger zones near the Mount Agung to immediately obey the instructions issued by state authorities such as the police, military, search and rescue team, and the BPBD. 

ANTARA