Marines Help Clean Mount Kelud Volcanic Ashes

Surabaya, E Java (Antara) - Indonesian Marines help clean houses and public facilities in Pandansari hamlet in Malang, which are covered with Mount Kelud's volcanic ash following its eruption on Feb. 13. "The marines and local residents are working together to clean houses and public facilities from Mount Kelud's volcanic ash materials," confirmed Marines Mayor Hadi Wibowo, here on Wednesday. Hadi stated that when the marines first arrived at the hamlet, it was empty. Everybody had fled their houses, "But today, local resident and the marines are working hand in hand," Hadi noted. In other affected areas of Pujon Hamlet, Malang, the Indonesian Navy Marines have also been helping out the local residents in the cleaning up process. The Navy Marines have also built two hospital posts for the evacuees in Pujon hamlet's sheltering areas, where people are mostly suffering from respiratory disorders. "To assist the mobilization of the troops, we have also equipped them with 10 personnel carrier trucks and two ambulance units," pointed out the task commander, Marines Lieutenant Colonel Kurniawan BCP. In Kediri, the Navy joint task force has also been giving assistance to the disaster-affected area by distributing logistic aid in the form of blankets and towels for residents across a number of hamlets. "The distribution of materials, blankets and towels have been delivered directly to the public, amounting to approximately 500 households in Sanding Hamlet and 113 households in Gatok Hamlet," clarified Natural Disaster task force commander Marine Lt. Col. Irpan Nasution. Mt. Kelud, located on the border of three districts namely Kediri, Blitar and Malang, erupted at around 10.50 p.m. on Thursday, spewing ash and gravel. The volcanic ash went as far away as West Java and the West Nusa Tenggara provinces, which are located hundreds of kilometers away. The volcano spewed volcanic materials having a volume of up to 200 million cubic meters at a height of 17 kilometers. (*)