TEMPO.CO, Pemalang – The zero volcanic activities of Mount Slamet that has been evident since Saturday, September 13, will not annul the disaster mitigation funds already earmarked by the government.
Local authorities said efforts to deal with a potential eruption would proceed so long as Mount Slamet was still placed at alert level.
“We learned from the incident of Mount Sinabung that hasn’t erupted for a while but eventually took casualties,” the chief of Central Java Disaster Management Agency, Sarwa Pramana , said on Sunday, September 14, 2014.
Sarwa added the province’s Health Agency had handed out 56,000 dust masks for residents in five regions bordering with Mount Slamet since last week. The five regions are Purbalingga, Banyumas, Pemalang, Tegal and Brebes districts.
Purbalingga, the area affected the most by the mountain’s ashes, received 16,000 masks, while the four others got 10,000 each.
Logistics aid from the Central Java administration, meanwhile, has been arriving in the five regions since last week, comprising basic refuge equipment, instant food, family kits and additional nutrition for children.
DINDA LEO LISTY