Search and Rescue Team Inspects Danger Zone Around Mount Kelud

Blitar, E Java (Antara) - The National Search and Rescue Agency on Saturday inspected several villages falling within the threatened zone around Mount Kelud that erupted on Thursday. The inspection was started from the village located closest to the eruption point of Mount Kelud in Blitar District. Several villages in Nglegok Sub-district were inspected by the team, including Pacuh, Penataran, Sumberasri, Modangan and Kampunganyar. The team also combed the area for any victims or casualties in the rural area of the Garum Sub-district, Gandusari and Wlingi. "We will start from Penataran Temple, Sumberasri, and Margourip. After reaching Kediri District, we will turn to Udanawu Sub-district. However, fortunately, we have not found any casualties so far," said Chief of Search and Rescue Team at the Trenggalek post, Pandu. Pandu added that the team found tens of houses that were damaged due to volcanic ash, particularly those where thick layers of ash came to be deposited on rooftops. The team also conducted inspection in the Kediri District located in the north of Blitar District. Previously, the Search and Rescue Agency had coordinated with Blitar Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency to mitigate the impact of the disaster. The meeting resulted in a decision that all concerned parties, including the volunteers involved in disaster relief, should coordinate and communicate to assist the needy and join the evacuation efforts. Several disaster mitigation agencies over the last two days faced a lack of coordination with each other after evacuating the refugees following Mount Kelud¿s eruption. The sources in Blitar Disaster Mitigation Agency said each agency was working by itself without coordinating with the other and there was no central command. The volunteers had experienced confusion while inspecting the area and evacuating people. "The evacuation team had no one in charge to decide what they should do. The people need tactical vehicles to carry refugees, but they do not know who to contact," a volunteer from Jaladri, Doni Widodo, said. Mount Kelud erupted on Thursday, leaving several areas in East Java and Central Java covered with volcanic ash, as well as thousands of people in need of evacuation. (*) (UU.B019/A/BESSR/A/Yosep)