West Halmahera BPBD's Head of Emergency and Logistics, Sofyan Aswad, told ANTARA in Ternate on Thursday that BPBD personnel had been deployed to distribute masks to local residents affected by Mount Ibu's eruption
Aswad said his side had distributed 1,385 masks to residents affected by the eruption that impacted seven villages.
Aswad revealed that the West Halmahera BPBD team had distributed 234 masks in Tongute Goin Village, 155 masks in Tongute Sungi Village, 259 masks at Maritango Village, 200 masks in Naga Village, 212 masks in Gam Ici Village, 275 masks in Kie Ici, and 150 masks in Ake Boso.
The recent eruption of Mount Ibu occurred in the morning and afternoon, so the BPBD team was deployed to the affected areas to intensively disseminate information and distribute masks to affected residents.
Aswad also urged the public to remain vigilant and appealed to all tourists to steer clear of scaling Mount Ibu owing to the presence of volcanic ash.
Earlier, the Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) noted that Mount Ibu in West Halmahera District erupted again on Thursday, August 4, thereby impacting some villages in the area.
Meanwhile, representative head of the Geological Agency at PVMBG's Mount Ibu Observation Post, Ridwan, confirmed the information that almost every time Mount Ibu erupts volcanic ash, it would drift to settlements, especially to the seven affected villages.
Ridwan also remarked that the volcanic ash could be witnessed up to 800 meters above the summit, or 2,125 meters above sea level.
The PVMBG recommends that during volcanic ash rain, the residents are advised to wear a mask to cover their nose and mouth and goggles while conducting outdoor activities.
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Translator: Abdul F, Kenzu T
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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