"The losses reach Rp11 trillion since the emergency status was declared on Sept 22, 2017. The tourism sector and its derivative have incurred major economic losses," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said.Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The recent eruptions of Mount Agung located in Karangasem District, Bali Island, have inflicted economic losses amounting to Rp11 trillion, including Rp9 trillion from the tourism industry.
"The losses reach Rp11 trillion since the emergency status was declared on Sept 22, 2017. The tourism sector and its derivative have incurred major economic losses," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, noted here, Friday.
The losses worth Rp2 trillion were from unpaid debts, as most debtors were affected by the volcanic eruption and compelled to stay in emergency camps without jobs.
Several foreign airlines, particularly of China, have planned to postpone their flights to and from Bali until January 2018.
To discuss the problem, President Joko Widodo was scheduled to chair a limited cabinet meeting in Sanur, Bali, on Friday afternoon. Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla was also expected to be present at the meeting.
He affirmed that Bali currently remains safe for tourist visits despite the emergency status of Mount Agung affecting areas within an eight- to 10-kilometer radius of the mountain`s peak.
Mount Agung is forecast to remain active in December 2017 until 2018 similar to that of Mount Sinabung in North Sumatra.
The lava has risen and filled the crater, with volcanic material amounting to 20 million cubic meters.
However, if there is another eruption of Mount Agung, it will not be as powerful as that in 1963.
The number of evacuees due to the Mount Agung eruption has reached 72,114 people currently being accommodated in 240 refugee camps.
Reported by Virna P Setyorini
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE/a014
(T.SYS/B/KR-BSR/A014)
Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017
