NORTH SULAWESI — A total of 9,343 residents of Tagulandang Island and Ruang Island, Siao Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency (Sitaro), are survivors of the eruption of Mount Ruang. Until now, Mount Ruang continues to show volcanic activity. The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG), on Monday (13/5/2024), revealed that there was a decrease in the activity level of Mount Ruang from Level IV (AWAS) to Level III (SIAGA).
Meanwhile, BNPB’s Operations Control Centre (Pusdalops) reported that there were 9,083 people and 5,000 houses affected by Mount Ruang’s volcanic activity. Dompet Dhuafa also continues to provide emergency assistance for survivors of the eruption of Mount Ruang.
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Through the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), Dompet Dhuafa opened a Public Kitchen and Warm Post service for 200 beneficiaries and a children’s playground at the Refugee Post located at the BLK Bitung Dormitory Office, Kadoodan Village, Madidir District, Bitung City. This service has been ongoing since Sunday (5/5/2024).
The Warm Post has been adjusted by presenting a variety of cold drinks as a form of service during the summer. Given that Indonesia has entered hot weather, there is concern that a large heat wave will occur.
‘We are very grateful to Dompet Dhuafa. The Bitung City Government through the Social Service, Ibu Head of Service, is grateful to Dompet Dhuafa as a donor who has provided assistance to people affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang who took refuge in Bitung City. We processed the assistance provided into ready-to-eat food through the Public Kitchen,’ said Umie Soekono as a representative of the Refugee Post volunteers who is also a General Functional Staff at the Bitung City Social Service.
Some evacuees chose to stay at the homes of their relatives in Bitung, Manado and surrounding areas. Thus, it is estimated that the number of evacuees at the BLK Bitung Dormitory Office is 200 people.
‘Insha Allah, we will try to return to the Taguladang Island area to review and provide other emergency response services. Such as medical, public kitchen, and evacuation standby if needed,’ said Erwandi Saputra, DMC Dompet Dhuafa Emergency Response, Recovery, and Volunteer Staff who reported from the Bitung Evacuation Post.
Currently, Ruang Volcano is still at level IV (AWAS). Based on MAGMA Indonesia’s report, the volcano is clearly visible. Observed white main crater smoke with thick intensity about 200-300 metres high from the summit. The weather is sunny to cloudy, weak winds to the south. The air temperature is around 27-30 degrees centigrade.
Seeing this fact, the government appealed to the people around Mount Ruang and visitors / tourists to remain vigilant and not to enter the 5 km radius area from the centre of the active crater of Mount Ruang. Then, people who live in the Tagulandang Island area within a 5 km radius should immediately evacuate to a safe place outside the 5 km radius. In addition, people are advised to always wear masks, to avoid exposure to volcanic ash that can interfere with the respiratory system.
Finally, people around Mount Ruang are expected to be calm, do their activities as usual, not provoked by issues about the eruption of Mount Ruang, and keep abreast of the activities of Mount Ruang through the MAGMA Indonesia application which can be downloaded on Google Playstore or through the magma.esdm.go.id website. May the surrounding community always be protected by Allah Swt. (Dompet Dhuafa/DMC)
Text: Arifian Fajar Putera, Riza Muthohar
Photo: Arifian Fajar Putera
Editor: Dhika Prabowo