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.