Activity increases at Mt. Papandayan<\/p>\n
Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Bandung<\/p>\n
The directorate general of volcanology affairs and mitigation at
\nthe mines and energy ministry called on people living on the
\nslopes of Mt Papandayan to remain alert, as the volcano showed
\nsigns of increased activity again early on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Mas Atje Purbawinata, chief of the subdirectorate of mountain
\nobservation in Java and Sumatra said people should not flee in
\npanic at the volcano's increased activity, for besides monitoring
\nthe volcano closely, he would issue regular bulletins about it.<\/p>\n
Following the downgrading of the volcano's status from
\n\"dangerous\" to \"alert\", the volcano increased its activities
\nagain at 5:02 a.m. on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\"The volcano is still spewing ash and thick smoke to a height
\nof 1,500 meters to 2,000 meters,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The cordoned-off area within a radius of one kilometer from
\nthe crater was covered by thick ash and debris, and ash-laden
\nrain has fallen on an area within a radius of four kilometers
\nfrom the crater.<\/p>\n
Purbawinata said the volcanology development office in
\nYogyakarta would install equipment to measure the rainfall and
\nclimatic conditions around the volcano.<\/p>\n
Despite the volcano's increased activity, the directorate
\ngeneral of volcanology and mitigation has yet to return the
\nvolcano's status to the \"danger\" level.<\/p>\n
Antara news agency reported that 158 families from Buangroke
\nand Ciburuy villages, Cikati subdistrict, returned to their
\nrefuge in Pacen forest following the volcano's eruption early on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
Cipaganti subdistrict head Iyan said in Garut that the
\nvillages took refuge in Pacen because of their belief that the
\nforest was safe, as their forefathers had believed when the
\nvolcano erupted in 1942.<\/p>\n
Garut regent Dede Satibi said that the volcano's eruption had
\ncaused Rp 15 billion (US1.6 million) in material losses to local
\npeople.<\/p>\n
The local administration will provide Rp 1 million to each
\nfamily as financial assistance to refugees whose home was
\ndestroyed when a mudflow damaged their villages last week.<\/p>\n
\"Those whose houses are under threat of mudflow will be given
\nRp 250,000 and all refugees will be given 20 kilograms of rice
\nper person,\" assistant to the regent Maman Sutrisman said.<\/p>\n
He added that four villages due to receive the financial aid
\nwere Sirnajaya, Sirnagalih, Pakuwon and Cibeureum.<\/p>\n
According to data at the local administration, 24 houses were
\ndamaged in the previous mudflow and 154 others are under threat
\nof a cold mudflow.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/activity-increases-at-mt-papandayan-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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