Indonesia to permanently relocate thousands of residents after eruptions

6/11/2024 13:43

        The Indonesian government plans to permanently relocate thousands of residents after a series of eruptions of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki volcano which killed nine people and damaged thousands of houses, officials said.
        
        Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki, located on Flores Island in East Nusa Tenggara province, erupted on Sunday night, followed by smaller eruptions on Monday and Tuesday, and remains on the highest volcanic alert status.
        
        Permanent relocation is considered as "long-term mitigation measures" to anticipate similar eruption in the future, said Suharyanto, the head of Indonesia's disaster agency in a statement on Wednesday.
        
        The government aims to relocate all residents living within seven km (four miles) radius from the crater, he added.
        
        There are more than 16,000 residents living in the nearest villages from the volcano, but the government is still calculating how many residents will be permanently relocated.
        
        "The volcano cannot be moved so it is the people who must move to safer locations," Suharyanto said.