Indonesia to Establish Disaster Preparedness Village in Dieng Plateau

Jakarta, (Antara) - Minister of Social Affairs Khofifah Indar Parawansa revealed that the ministry is contemplating on establishing a Disaster Preparedness Village in the Dieng Plateau area of Central Java Province.

"The preparedness village can help in the early detection of some areas that are prone to disasters," Parawansa stated here on Monday.

The disaster preparedness village is being planned after a phreatic eruption of the Sileri Crater in the Dieng tourism area on last Sunday.

Parawansa said the ministry has evaluated the importance of establishing a disaster preparedness village in the area.

Parawansa added that according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, at least 323 districts in Indonesia are prone to natural disasters.

With regard to the Sileri Crater eruption, Parawansa noted that Disaster Preparedness Volunteers are being deployed in the area to assist in the evacuation process.

"We have readied some volunteers to assist with the evacuation service," the minister said.

The volunteers are in charge of establishing a public kitchen and offering psychosocial treatment to people affected by the disaster.

A phreatic explosion occurred in the Sileri Crater of the Dieng Plateau Tourism Area at Banjarnegara District on last Sunday.

The eruption is noted to reach as high as 50 meters and occurred at 12 a.m. local time.

The eruption resulted in volcanic material being spewed as far as the Waterboom recreation parking lot.(*)