Luhut calls for extra caution over Mt. Sinabung

JAKARTA. Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan — who is also currently serving as acting energy and mineral resources minister — has called on newly appointed geology agency chief Ego Syahrial to be extra cautious regarding Mount Sinabung’s eruptions.

Quoting Soerono, the previous head of the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG), Luhut warned that the volcano, located in Karo regency, North Sumatra, was expected to continue erupting for the next 10 years.

“Make sure that nobody lives within a 5-kilometer radius of the mountain’s crater,” Luhut said during Ego’s inauguration at the ministry’s office in Jakarta on Thursday.

Soerono is well known for his expertise in volcanology. Before leaving his position as PVMBG head to enter retirement, he warned local residents living around Mt. Sinabung to permanently abandon the area.

In response, Ego said he would coordinate with other agencies to evacuate Karo residents to more secure locations.

“Evacuations surrounding Mt. Sinabung need cooperation across agencies and government institutions. We have to coordinate with local administrations and Basarnas [the National Search and Rescue Agency] to ensure local people’s safety,” he said.

Luhut added that he hoped Ego, as the new PVMBG chief, would manage the institution well and take it to the level of the British Geological Survey, which is recognized around the world. (rez/ags)