JAKARTA – At least 14 people were killed and nine villagers remained missing, after Mount Semeru in Lumajang district of Indonesia’s East Java province, erupted on Saturday, the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency’s acting spokesman, Abdul Muhari, said yesterday.

Downpours were predicted to fall through the crater and slope of the volcano, in the next three days, which may slow down the search and evacuation of the victims, Muhari said.

“The nine people are still in the status of missing or dead,” the spokesman said.

As many as 1,300 people have taken shelter to evacuation centres, the spokesman said, adding that, health protocols would be applied at the centres.

“We have sent as many as 20,000 pieces of face masks to the evacuation centres, not only to prevent COVID-19 from spreading, but also to avert respiratory problems,” he said.

The official said, the government would provide aid in cash of 500,000 rupiahs (about 34.7 U.S. dollars) per month, for each family, within the next six months, for renting houses, while the government would look for new locations to build houses for those affected by the disaster.

Logistics aid for affected people have been distributed to the evacuation centres, Muhari said.

The volcano eruption, with the release of hot clouds, destroyed hundreds of houses, a bridge, education facilities and other infrastructure facilities, according to a government official.

The Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Centre’s Head, Andiani, said that, Saturday’s eruption released hot clouds by up to 11 km from the crater, and yesterday the volcano also spewed hot clouds twice.

The evacuation, and search and rescue operation for the victims may be hampered by downpours, which may trigger lava floods. The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency warned that heavy rains may happen in days ahead.

“There are still potential of rains, with levels of weak, moderate and heavy, pouring down the areas of the crater and the slope of the volcano in the next three days,” A Fachri Rajab, head of the Centre of Public Meteorology of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics, said.

Volcanic ashes, along with heavy downpours, have become thick mud which submerged houses, roads and other infrastructure facilities in Lumajang district.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK