No. 55/MC.TDBM/11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

No. 55/MC.TDBM/11/2010

FOG KEEPS COVERING THE TOP OF MERAPI

Yogyakarta, 21/11 (09:01 WIB) Eruption with low intensity keeps occurring on MErapi until Sunday (21/11) morning. The observation done by Research and Volcanic Technology Development (BPPTK) recorded two times of tectonic earthquake, one time lava flow tremor, two time tectonic earthquake, and consecutive tremor.

Data from BPPTK tiltmeter shows the existence of fluctuative deformation, but there is no significant sign of soil augmentation. While geodetic Global Positioning System (GPS) showed soil descent on the southeast side foot of Merapi.

The weather is foggy since Saturday (20/11) to Sunday (21/11) morning covering the tip of Merapi. A white cloud with high pressure was also observed with elevation of 600 meter and 800 meter and it was moving towards southwest at dawn.

The Head of Volcanology and Mitigation, Dr. Surono, in his report, still suggests Merapi to be in Level 4 (AWAS), with secondary threat in the form of heat cloud and cold lava. The recommended safe distance from Merapi remain the same, which is 10 Km on west of Sleman, 15 km on east of Sleman, 10 km at Magelang, Boyolali 5 km, and Kleten 10 km.

The possibility of the thread of heat cloud affected area is still the main concern of the center. Therefore the center is coordinating with the local government in regards of evacuation scheme when such threat happens.

_________

Contact          : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone                        : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile                        : 0815 9926 781

Contact          : Selamatta Sembiring, Public Information Agency-Kemenkominfo

Mobile                        : 08128334942

No. 54/MC.TDBM/11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

No. 54/MC.TDBM/11/2010

MERAPI’S ACTIVITY IS DECLINING

Yogyakarta, 20/11 (20:20 WIB) Merapi’s activity which is still under Level 4 status (AWAS), until Saturday (20/11) afternoon, is declining. Though volcanic earthquake on Friday (19/11) was recorded 13 times, while today is 23 times, but the quake magnitude is smaller. This can be seen from the tremor of lava flow which happen only three times, while a day before happened six times.

Based on the observation report of, since dawn until in the afternoon, the tip of Merapi was covered by thin to thick fog. Along with the fog, a white to brownish solfatara smoke was also seen. Heat cloud ashes was smelled with low intensity in Manisrenggo Municipality, Klaten, at 2.50 PM. While cold lava sediments still can be seen on entire rivers originating from the tip of Merapi.

Head of Volcanology and Mitigation Center, Surono, in his report, keep recommending inquiries to be done on volcanic ashes which potentially interfere flight route to Adi Sucipto Airport, Yogyakarta. Citizens are not allowed to do any activity on the stream of river originating from Merapi. “The threat of lava flow is in the area with distance of 300 meters from the river banks coming from Merapi.” He said.

To anticipate the spreading possibilities of heat cloud area, Surono added that Volcanolgy and Geology Disaster Mitigation Center is coordinating intensively with the local government. “People are advised not to panic and get distracted by issues who are using the name of certain institution on their behalf about Merapi and always following the instruction from local government.” Surono said.

_________

Contact          : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone                        : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile                        : 0815 9926 781

Contact          : Selamatta Sembiring, Public Information Agency-Kemenkominfo

Mobile                        : 08128334942

No. 53/MC.TDBM/11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

No. 53/MC.TDBM/11/2010

ON SATURDAY AFTERNOON, SEVEN VOLCANIC EARTHQUAKES OCCUR IN MERAPI

Yogyakarta, 20/11/2010 (16:08 WIB) Seven volcanic and two tectonic earthquakes occure in Merap on Saturday (20/11) afternoon. Besides that, two lava flow tremor consecutively occurred in the mountain that has expelled hundreds square meter of volcanic material from inside the earth.

CCTV in Museum Post recorded thick brownish white smokes with elevation of 150 meters on 8 AM towards southwest. While CCTV from Deles Post recorded thick brownish white smokes with elevation of 200 meters towards the same direction.

Untill 12 PM, the death toll is 292 people, inpatients are 567 people, and displaced persons are 230.326 people in 735 locations.

Until this report is released, Research and Volcanic Technology Development Body (BPPTK) is still in AWAS status (level 4) with threats of heat cloud and lava.

Contact          : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone                        : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile                        : 0815 9926 781

Contact          : Selamatta Sembiring, Public Information Agency-Kemenkominfo

Mobile                        : 08128334942

No. 52/MC.TDBM/11/2010

SIARAN PERS

No.   52/MC.TDBM/11/2010

MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WILL RELEASE MOVIE ABOUT EARTHQUAKE EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

Yogyakarta, 20/11/2010 (Media Center Kominfo, 14:00) – Indonesia is a country prone to natural disaster, especially earthquake. In order to increase people’s understanding on disaster, Kemkominfo shortly will release movie about early warning system (EWS).

“We are about to finish a movie about earthquake early warning system. The movie will tell us about Indonesia, a country prone to natural disaster, about earthquake itself, and what happen when an earthquake strikes an area” said Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Tifatul Sembiring to the reporter when visiting Media Center of Merapi Disaster Emergency Relief on Jalan Kenari No 14a Yogyakarta, Saturday (20/11)

The movie is aiming to improve people’s awareness toward the effect caused by earthquake. This film will appear throughout Indonesia, in cooperation with National Disaster Mitigation Body (BNPB). So that people will know what to do and what are the required steps what natural disaster happens. “The movie will be shown in schools and offices throughout Indonesia in cooperation with related institution.” He said.

When people are aware of the effect of earthquake, said Tifatul, it will surely able to prevent the the number of casualties, especially the number of death.

The minister subsequently shared stories on tsunami disaster that caused by earthquake in Aceh few years ago. The death toll reached 250.000 people. Out of that enormous number, there is one area called Simeuleu Municipality in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) Province that only has few casualties while its citizen is 181.000 people.

Why is that so, Tifatul said, it is because of the people have local wisdom. Since old time and from generations they give understanding to their offsprings through local traditional poetry and chant about what to do when the seawater subside, fish come, and earthquake happened, they should run for the hill to survive. “The chant and poetry was there because tsunami have occurred hundreds of years ago.” Tifatul added.

__________

Contact          : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone                        : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile                        : 0815 9926 781

Contact          : Selamatta Sembiring, Public Information Agency-Kemenkominfo

Mobile                        : 08128334942

No. 51/MC.TDBM/11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

No. 51/MC.TDBM/11/2010

MINISTER OF COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY: ALMOST ALL BTS ARE FUNCTIONING IN THE MERAPI ERUPTION AFFECTED AREA

Yogyakarta, 20/11/2010 Almost all Base Transceiver Station (BTS) around Merapi eruption affected area are now back in operation. Since Merapi expelled heat cloud end of last month, 70 BTS is not functioning since. At the moment, only seven BTS left unfunctioning. This was explained by the Minister of Communication and Information Technology, Tiffatul Sembiring, in a press conference in Media Center of Merapi Disaster Emergency Relief on Jalan Kenari No 14a Yogyakarta, Saturday (20/11)

According to Sembiring, the ministry is prioritizing the facility in supporting public communication in mitigating Merapi Disaster. The government do not want public communication to be disturbed, because public are in need to communicate with cellular phone.

In the future, as Sembiring added, we hope to duplicate Japanese Government  in conveying messages of emergency massively through cell phone to the public. “Early warning system can be conveyed through hand phone, so that people can anticipate immediately,” he added.

Besides the quick act to fix communication support facility, since the beginning of emergency, the ministry has been cooperatin with the National Disaster Mitigation Body (BNPB) by providing Media Center of Merapi Disaster Emergency Relief. Tifatul added that the existence of Media Center is to give service to those who are in need of communication and to lessen their anxiety during emergency time. Media Center can also be used as main data resource and standard referral on comprehensive information from BNPB. The press can obtain information from first hand.

Contact          : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone                        : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile                        : 0815 9926 781

Contact          : Selamatta Sembiring, Public Information Agency-Kemenkominfo

Mobile                        : 08128334942

No. 50/MC.TDBM/11/2010

PRESS RELEASE

No. 50/MC.TDBM/11/2010

THIN FOG STILL LAYERED MERAPI TILL DAWN

Yogyakarta, 20/11 (09:20 WIB) The Activity of Merapi still causes three volcanic quakes, two tectonic quakes and consecutive tremors until Saturday (20/11) morning.

The Geodetic Global Positioning System shows that there is a slope of soil contour on the southeast feet of Merapi. CCTV Deles and Museum also taped a thin to thick fog layering Merapi from dawn until morning. 300 metres high of smoke are moving toward southwest.  

A sediment of cold lava is still observed on the entire river originating from Merapi.

Safe area for Merapi’s displaced persons is decreased to 5 upto 15 km. Nevertheless, until now, Volcanic Technology Development and Investigation Office (BPPTK) still consider Merapi in AWAS status with threat of heat cloud and lava.  

Until this report is releases, recorded deaths are 292 people, inpatients 567 people, displaced persons 235.858 people distributed in 735 locations.

_________

Contact          : Hartje Winerungan, Head of PR-BNPB

Phone                        : 0274 – 547 359 (Hotline Media Center)

Mobile                        : 0815 9926 781

Contact          : Selamatta Sembiring, Public Information Agency-Kemenkominfo

Mobile                        : 08128334942