Sitaro, Ekuatorial – Hundreds evacuated after Karangetang Mountain erupted since Thursday (7/5), said an official, in Sitaro, North Sulawesi, on Friday (8/5).
Charlton Bob Wuaten, head of Sitaro Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency, said that there were at least 465 refugees evacuated to three locations.
“Besides of villagers date, we also recorded four houses affected by volcanic ashes in Kora-Kora. Meanwhile, other [damages] are still being reviewed by officials,” said Wuaten. “Though eruptions subsided, visually, but we are still waiting recommendations from the monitoring post officers.”
Despite of no casualties and minimum physical damages, eruptions have caused schools to closed down temporarily. At least four schools in Siau, — YPK GMIST Ulu Siau Elementary School, Bebali Elementary School, Siau Timur Junior High School 1, and Sitim Vocational High School –, were forced to close as volcanic ashes blanketed Sitaro district, last Thursday.
Robert Kahiking, head of Sitaro Education agency, said they have to close those four schools after considering the safety of its teachers and students.
“Those four schools are in the danger zone of Karangetang Mountain. So, considering for their safety, we need to close them down temporarily,” said Kahiking.
However, he said that they would still take into consideration on the national exams schedule for elementary school.
“We will need to adjust with the current condition. If it’s possible, then elementary students can come to school without their uniforms,” he said. “They can still continue their studies in refugee camps because this is an emergency situation.”
Furthermore, he urged for people living in the danger zone of the mountain to be alert, If the condition was critical, he said, teachers must sent their students home. Yoseph Ikanubun