Residents warned Mt. Sinabung still dangerous

MEDAN. Even though the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG) have allowed people who live outside a 7-kilometer radius of Mount Sinabung to return home, residents were told to stay alert and vigilant.

"Although Mt. Sinabung was declared safe, Tanah Karo residents, especially, have to stay alert for the time being," North Sumatra Vice Governor Tengku Erry Nuradi said on Monday as quoted by Antara news agency.

He explained that residents who lived within a 5-kilometer radius were still not allowed to return to their homes.

"Another eruption could occur anytime," he said. "We understand evacuees are keen to go home after almost five months at evacuation shelters."

Erry said the evacuees, who are staying at 42 evacuation centers, were suffering from depression due to material and financial problems.

He added that he had visited a number of possible locations to relocate residents, including Bukit 2000, which is located some 14 km from Kabanjahe, the seat of Karo regency. Temporary housing will be built for those living within 3 km of the crater.

The North Sumatra provincial and Karo regency administrations, however, are still looking for other locations as there is not enough room in Bukit 2000 to accommodate all the displaced residents. (yln/nvn)