Refugees from Tagulandang Continue to Arrive at the Bitung BLK Command Post

The post in Bitung, North Sulawesi, is still being visited by refugees from the eruption of Mount Ruang. The status of the mountain is still Watch.

KOMPAS/RAYNARD KRISTIAN BONANIO PARDEDE

The Balai Latihan Kerja Bitung building was opened as a refugee center for the residents of Pulau Tagulandang affected by the eruption of Mount Ruang on Monday (6/5/2024).

BITUNG, KOMPAS — The evacuation of refugees from Tagulandang Island, North Sulawesi, due to the Mount Ruang eruption is still ongoing. Residents fled to various places, such as Bitung City, Manado City, and North Minahasa Regency.

Services such as decent living accommodations and health checks are provided. Transportation facilities are also prepared for those who want to evacuate to family homes. Mount Ruang's status is still at level IV Alert.

In Bitung, the government provides a refugee post at the job training center of the North Sulawesi Manpower Office (BLK). As of Monday (6/5/2024), a total of 95 people are still in this post.

Refugees, the majority of whom are families, are each given a 4-meter x 4-meter room to rest. The food needs of the refugees are also available throughout the day from the communal kitchen located in the BLK area.

BASARNAS MANADO

A picture of Mount Ruang in the Kepulauan Sitaro Regency, North Sulawesi, which erupted on Friday (19/4/2024). As a result of the eruption, the Sam Ratulangi Airport remains closed.

The head of the Social Security Protection Division at the Bitung City Social Services, Sammy Lombogia, explained that since the second eruption on Tuesday (April 30, 2024), there have been 2,000 residents of Tagulandang, Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands Regency (Sitaro), North Sulawesi, who are now in this shelter.

The majority of them only stay for a few days before being picked up by their families. Those who do not have anyone to pick them up are assisted by the government to be taken to their families.

However, quite a few of them decided to return to the BLK Bitung post because they were considered to have received quite good service. Some of the refugees who are already living in family homes also often come to BLK to collect food aid. His party also provides trauma healing facilities for refugees.

It is estimated that 30 people will arrive at the evacuation post on Monday evening. In addition to Bitung, evacuation posts are also located at the Sentra Tumoutou Office building in Manado.

KOMPAS/RAYNARD KRISTIAN BONANIO PARDEDE

The atmosphere of a room unit at the BLK Bitung Refugee Post, North Sulawesi, Monday (6/5/2024).

"The vocational training center is of the apartment type and is therefore suitable to be used as a shelter. Facilities include a bathroom in every room. There are also many volunteers here who assist the refugees," he said in Bitung, North Sulawesi, on Monday.

The government has also prepared healthcare facilities. Officers from local health centers and general district hospitals are also available. A refugee from Balehumara Village, Tagulandang Sub-district, Sitaro, Safira Wulanta (19), explained that officials regularly check the health of refugees at the BLK Bitung. This woman who is 9 months pregnant is currently waiting for the birth of her first child.

Also read: Eruption of Mount Ruang Triggers Earthquake on Mount Gamalama Ternate

She explained that her husband is still on Tagulandang Island. Safira, who arrived at the BLK Bitung on Thursday (May 2, 2024), decided to evacuate without her husband due to the availability of health facilities.

The village of Balehumara on Tagulandang Island is the most severely affected village. The location of the village across from Mount Ruang caused the eruption some time ago to quickly damage the residents' homes. Safira stated that almost all of the village residents have evacuated. Only a few have decided to stay in Tagulandang, but live in a village outside the danger zone.

”Maybe in these weeks (of giving birth). "The midwives regularly check our rooms to ensure our health," he said.

KOMPAS/RAYNARD KRISTIAN BONANIO PARDEDE

Refugees from Tagulandang Island are choosing clothes from donors at the BLK Bitung Refugee Post, North Sulawesi, Monday (6/5/2024).

The Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency in Manado, Monce Brury, explained that as of Monday at 07.00 Central Indonesian Time, there have been 5,687 residents of Tagulandang Island evacuated. Evacuation efforts have been carried out since Tuesday (30/4/2024) until Monday (6/5/2024) using sea transportation.

Not only using ships belonging to the government and the Indonesian Navy, commercial ships also evacuated residents. "We are on standby while waiting for evacuation orders. "Activities are starting to improve with the reopening of Sam Ratulangi Airport," he said.

Stay alert

On Sunday (5/5/2024), the Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVBMG) has reduced the dangerous area radius of Mount Ruang from 7 kilometers to 5 kilometers. However, as of Monday, the status of Mount Ruang is still at level IV Alert.

KOMPAS/RAYNARD KRISTIAN BONANIO PARDEDE

The atmosphere inside the BLK Bitung Refugee Post, North Sulawesi, Monday (6/5/2024).

The monitor at the Gunung Ruang Observation Post, Yopi Rombot, explained that volcanic and tremor earthquakes are still occurring at Gunung Ruang. Thin white smoke, thick white smoke, and even foggy white smoke are still often seen coming out of the crater of Gunung Ruang.

Also read: Sam Ratulangi Airport Still Closed, Residents Choose to Return to Transit in Ternate

During the period of May 1-5, 2024, PVBMG recorded 2 eruption earthquakes, 76 shallow volcanic earthquakes, and 16 deep volcanic earthquakes. Local tectonic earthquakes also occurred 4 times and far tectonic earthquakes 26 times.

Notifications regarding the status of the mountain will be provided every six hours.

In addition to earthquakes, eruptions also occurred during that period. On Wednesday (1/5/2024), an eruption occurred with an ash column rising up to 600 meters, and on Thursday (2/5/2024) with an ash column rising up to 300 meters.

"The earthquake recording and volcano monitoring equipment are still functioning well. Notifications regarding the status of the volcano will be given every six hours. The public is expected to rely on information from the government," he said.