Activity increases at Mt. Papandayan

Activity increases at Mt. Papandayan

Budianto, The Jakarta Post, Bandung

The directorate general of volcanology affairs and mitigation at
the mines and energy ministry called on people living on the
slopes of Mt Papandayan to remain alert, as the volcano showed
signs of increased activity again early on Wednesday.

Mas Atje Purbawinata, chief of the subdirectorate of mountain
observation in Java and Sumatra said people should not flee in
panic at the volcano's increased activity, for besides monitoring
the volcano closely, he would issue regular bulletins about it.

Following the downgrading of the volcano's status from
"dangerous" to "alert", the volcano increased its activities
again at 5:02 a.m. on Wednesday.

"The volcano is still spewing ash and thick smoke to a height
of 1,500 meters to 2,000 meters," he said.

The cordoned-off area within a radius of one kilometer from
the crater was covered by thick ash and debris, and ash-laden
rain has fallen on an area within a radius of four kilometers
from the crater.

Purbawinata said the volcanology development office in
Yogyakarta would install equipment to measure the rainfall and
climatic conditions around the volcano.

Despite the volcano's increased activity, the directorate
general of volcanology and mitigation has yet to return the
volcano's status to the "danger" level.

Antara news agency reported that 158 families from Buangroke
and Ciburuy villages, Cikati subdistrict, returned to their
refuge in Pacen forest following the volcano's eruption early on
Wednesday.

Cipaganti subdistrict head Iyan said in Garut that the
villages took refuge in Pacen because of their belief that the
forest was safe, as their forefathers had believed when the
volcano erupted in 1942.

Garut regent Dede Satibi said that the volcano's eruption had
caused Rp 15 billion (US1.6 million) in material losses to local
people.

The local administration will provide Rp 1 million to each
family as financial assistance to refugees whose home was
destroyed when a mudflow damaged their villages last week.

"Those whose houses are under threat of mudflow will be given
Rp 250,000 and all refugees will be given 20 kilograms of rice
per person," assistant to the regent Maman Sutrisman said.

He added that four villages due to receive the financial aid
were Sirnajaya, Sirnagalih, Pakuwon and Cibeureum.

According to data at the local administration, 24 houses were
damaged in the previous mudflow and 154 others are under threat
of a cold mudflow.