House Speaker calls for integrated response to Mount Anak Krakatau eruption
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Speaker of the House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani has called for the handling of the impacts of the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption to be carried out in an integrated manner, with public safety as the top priority.
According to her, the impacts of the eruption of the volcano located in the Sunda Strait have affected health, education, transport and economic activity of communities in a number of regions.
“The government, through the relevant ministries and agencies, must also ensure that every need of affected communities can be facilitated,” said Puan in Jakarta on Monday.
She asked the government to carry out disaster relief comprehensively and to ensure the availability of face masks and health facilities for those in need.
“Disasters cannot be prevented, but the impact on the people can be minimised by a faster presence of the State,” she said.
According to her, central and regional governments need to work as one unit so that citizens receive equal protection even though they are in different provinces. To that end, she asked the government to give clear assurances to communities facing the impacts of the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.
“There must not be one region that is prepared with adequate stocks and services, while another region leaves its people short of basic necessities in facing the volcanic eruption disaster,” she said.
At the same time, she reminded that attention must also be given to daily-wage workers, small traders, fishermen, micro, small and medium enterprise (MSME) actors, and families whose incomes have been halted due to activity restrictions.
“Safety policies must be accompanied by protection so that families are not forced to choose between avoiding exposure or continuing to work to meet their needs,” she said.
Earlier, the Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) stated that the continuous eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau had ended after lasting 25 hours, although volcanic activity continues to be monitored because the seismicity level remains high.
Head of the Geological Agency Lana Saria, in an official statement received in Jakarta on Monday, explained that the continuous eruption episode of Mount Anak Krakatau lasted from Friday (4 September) at 23.07 Western Indonesia Time (WIB) until Sunday (6 September) at 00.04 WIB.
After that period ended, eruptive activity returned to showing the pattern of mild eruptions characteristic of Mount Anak Krakatau, which is located in Lampung Province.