Two Die, Hundreds of Thounsands to Evacuate in Volcanis Eruption

Jakarta (Antara) - Thursday night's eruption of Mount Kelud in Kediri, East Java, was reported to have killed two people and forced hundreds of thousand others to evacuate. National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) data and information center spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho reported that the victims were identified as Sail (60) and Pontini (65), both residents of Pandangsari village in Malang district. "Up to 6 a.m. on Friday morning, more than 100 thousand people from 172 points have been evacuated to safer areas," Sutop stated, adding that the evacuees were from the districts of Kediri, Blitar, Tulungagung, and Malang. Upon hearing the eruption of Mt Kelud, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono immediately chaired a limited cabinet meeting to discuss mitigation efforts. The meeting was held at the presidential office on Friday morning and attended, among others, by Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Hatta Rajasa, Finance Minister Chatib Basri, Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi, and military chiefs of staff. Mount Kelud erupted on Thursday night spewing molten lava and black smoke. The molten lava was seen clearly from the sub-district of Talun, in Blitar, East Java, around 15-20 kilometers from the mountain. Antara reporter from Blitar stated that people were running from their homes and some were even hitting electricity poles to alert others that the mountain had erupted as reported, since 10.56 p.m. local time. (*) (O001/INE/F. Assegaf)