President Appreciates Handling of East Java Volcanic Eription

Jakarta (Antara) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has given his high appreciation to the handling of devastating Mount Kelud eruption at the districts of Blitar, Malang, and Kediri in East Java province. "In my dialogs with the evacuees in three districts and two cities, I was delighted because the people there were very cooperative," President Yudhoyono said on his Twitter account @SBYudhoyono, monitored by Antara here on Thursday. The head of state said he appreciated the handling of the disaster because the people were very cooperative and followed what has been instructed by the government and the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). "The handling of volcanic eruption in East Java is a good example that should be emulated by other regions when they are hit by similar disaster," the president noted. He said the PNPB, the provincial and regional government officials, as well as police and military personnel moved very quickly in helping the victims of the disaster. The president then expressed his hope that the activity of coughing Mount Kelud would soon return to normal in order that the displaced people could return to their homes and carry out their daily routine again.(*)