Indonesian Military Deploys Troops to Evacuate Residents Near Mount Sinabung

The Indonesian National Armed Forces (Trol) has deployed 1,012 personnel to evacuate residents following increased activity at Mount Sinabung, North Sumatra, on Wednesday.

“Despite no formal request from the local government, the TNI has taken the initiative to deploy 1,012 personnel along with supporting facilities to assist the community and anticipate further developments in the situation,” said Colonel Agung Saptoadi, Head of Public Information at the TNI Information Centre, in an official press release received in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Agung explained that the thousands of personnel are prepared to undertake initial evacuation steps, ranging from establishing command posts to transporting residents and their belongings to safer locations.

Agung continued that the TNI has also prepared medical teams, transport vehicles, and main command posts for the benefit of local residents.

“The TNI is also setting up a main command post at Makodim 0205/TK and a sub-post at Koramil 04/SE to support coordination and field handling,” Agung explained.

Furthermore, the TNI is working to ensure that food stocks remain sufficient to meet the needs of evacuees should volcanic activity continue to increase.

This is being achieved through coordination with the local government to secure food supplies in Bulog warehouses.

“The TNI is coordinating with the local government to prepare four food distribution points (SPPG) in potentially affected areas and to ensure the availability of 650 tonnes of rice in the Tanah Karo Bulog Warehouse as part of logistical readiness,” Agung clarified.

With these anticipatory measures in place, Agung expressed hope that the evacuation process can proceed effectively to ensure the safety of all residents.