JAKARTA — The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB has reported at least 498 houses and three public facilities damaged by the eruption last March 18 of Mount Ruang in Sitaro Islands District, North Sulawesi.
The head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that in addition to 135 mildly damaged houses and 363 moderately to severely damaged houses, two churches and one elementary school building in Tagulandang, Sitaro Islands were affected by the eruption.
The BNPB team’s report also said 11,624 residents of the Sitaro Islands were affected by the eruption.
The residents are from 12 villages in Tagulandang Sub-district, namely Pumpente, Laingpatehi, Mahangiang, Tulusan Barangka Pehe, Apengsala, Lesah Rende, Pahiama, Boto, Leseh, Bahoi, and Balehumara. Majority og them have been evacuated to emergency posts, places of worship, and the homes of relatives.
As many as 31 Leseh residents who were patients at the Tagulandang Regional General Hospital (RSUD) in Batuline, Sitaro Islands were evacuated to Bethel Paninteang Church.
BNPB has also been sending aid, including refugee and 100 family tents, lighting towers, diesel generators; packages of basic necessities, ready-to-eat food, blankets, mattresses, antibacterial equipment, masks, refugee survival kits, portable toilets, as well as velveds and rolled beds to meet the basic needs of affected residents. (Antara)