Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has started collecting data on buildings to relocate people residing around the dangerous zones of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Flores, East Nusa Tenggara.
"To optimize the emergency phase, we have started to collect data on buildings, we have started to talk about relocation," head of the BNPB's Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication, Abdul Muhari, said during a briefing on disaster handling.
The briefing was followed online from here on Monday.
He noted that initially, the residents were hesitant about the relocation. However, BNPB head Suharyanto conducted a dialogue with the residents on the risks of potential eruptions.
Muhari said that the BNPB head assured the community that after the emergency response phase, land assets would remain community assets and agricultural activities could continue to be carried out even though relocation would be carried out for residential areas.
"If the eruption ejects hot rocks, there is no way to mitigate it; we have to leave," he stressed.
The BNPB has communicated with the local government regarding the plan to relocate residents living around Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki while continuing to collect data on people who need to relocate.
The process has continued to run because currently, there are some residents who have evacuated independently.
Baca juga: Komodo Airport closed due to Mount Lewotobi eruption
Therefore, Muhari appealed to those who have evacuated independently to gather at one evacuation center because, in addition to making the data collection process easier, it would also make assistance distribution easier.
Baca juga: BNPB adds evacuation sites for victims of Mt Lewotobi eruption
According to data from the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the number of people displaced due to the Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki eruption reached 12,200 as of Monday.
