MT Kelud Eruption Losses Estimated at Rp1 Trillion

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - The East Java provincial administration has estimated losses due to material damages caused by the recent Mount Kelud's eruption can spiral up to Rp1.2 trillion. "The number can further increase as data from isolated areas have not yet been collected," Head of the central command post of Mt. Kelud disaster mitigation Akhmad Sukardi stated here on Monday. He claimed that the biggest losses were incurred in the agricultural sector due to damage to crops such as rice, corn, soybean, chili, tomatoes, potatoes, pineapples, and roses worth up to Rp1.1 trillion. Meanwhile, the loss to the plantation sector, such as coffee, cocoa, clove, and sugarcane in the three districts of Kediri, Blitar, and Malang are estimated to reach Rp84 billion, he explained. "The loss to the animal husbandry sector is estimated at Rp13 billion," he added. The loss to the education sector due to the damages inflicted on school buildings was also quite substantial and estimated at Rp2.7 billion, he reported. He noted that the figures are still provisional and had been reported to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. He remarked that the East Java administration has estimated the budget during the emergency response period for the next 10 days. He was hopeful that the central government will also offer assistance. "Although the central government will provide assistance, the disaster has been declared by the East Java governor as a provincial disaster and not a national one," he emphasized. He claimed that the central command post at the Grahadi provincial government complex is the command center for all the command posts set up in various regions. All logistics and evacuation equipment are supplied from here," he added. (*)