Govt plans permanent housing for Mt. Lewotobi evacuees

Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) outlined the government's plan to build permanent housing for evacuees from Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki without delay in Nobo Leto, a village in Ile Boleng sub-district, East Flores district, NTT.

"We agreed on one location for permanent housing in Nobo Leto. After this meeting, related parties will immediately start working," head of the BNPB, Lieutenant General Suharyanto, said after attending a coordination meeting for emergency disaster mitigation in NTT on Thursday.

Suharyanto informed that the volcanic activity status of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki has continued to vary, but it has not dropped below level II since the eruption recorded six months ago.

In fact, since May 18, 2025, its status has been raised to level IV (Alert) due to ongoing magmatic activity.

"Regarding this phenomenon, there is no other way except evacuating the community within a radius of seven kilometers from the mountain," he informed.

"Since the major eruption six months ago, everyone has left the location; some are still in evacuation locations, some are already in temporary shelters, and some have evacuated independently," he said.

Based on data from the BNPB, 411 families or 1,338 evacuees are taking shelter at the Titehena sub-district field post.

Meanwhile, independent refugees—comprising 754 families or 2,771 people—are spread across several sub-districts of Wulanggilang, Larantuka, Ile Bura, Ile Mandiri, Titehena, Lewolema, Demon Pagong, Adonara Island, Tanjung Bunga, and Solor Island.

Suharyanto said that the central government, in collaboration with local governments, has provided temporary housing for refugees.

The temporary housing is being built in two stages. So far, 450 units have been built and occupied by 450 families, spread across several villages, namely Dulipali, Nawokote, Klatanlo, and Boru.

Meanwhile, NTT Governor Melkiades Laka Lena expressed his support for the disaster mitigation process.

"We have provided financial support for the East Flores district government, especially for facilities and logistics procurement. We also continue to coordinate and encourage the acceleration of development at the district level," he said.