"The PUPR Ministry has prepared 200 units of houses to be built soon in the relocation areas," said Suharyanto, Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), in Padang Pariaman, West Sumatra, on Thursday.
He made the statement after handing over humanitarian aid from the Ministry of Defense to victims of the cold lava floods.
Regarding the location of the house construction, the local government is currently still surveying areas that are safe from the potential occurrence of subsequent cold lava floods.
"There are already several alternative locations. Hopefully, the day after tomorrow, it will be clear where they will be built," he remarked.
He ensured that the central government and local government would balance efforts to search for missing victims, handle evacuees, and build new houses for survivors.
On that occasion, he also ensured that over the next two weeks, various logistical needs of cold lava flash flood survivors could be fulfilled.
The BNPB reported that as of Thursday, 67 people died in the disaster that occurred on Saturday (May 11).
Currently, the BNPB, Search and Rescue Office of Padang City, Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), and National Police (Polri) are still conducting searches for 20 residents who went missing due to the disaster.
Flash floods and cold lava floods hit several sub-districts in the districts of Agam, Tanah Datar, and Padang Pariaman, as well as the cities of Padang Panjang and Padang in West Sumatra, on May 11.
The disaster caused serious damage and cut off the Padang-Agam-Tanah Datar-Bukittinggi-Solok transportation route. The government then decided to roll out an emergency response period for the next 14 days, starting on May 13.
Related news: Total death toll of Marapi cold lava flood reaches 67: BNPB
Related news: Death toll of lava floods in West Sumatra reaches 58: BNPB
Translator: Muhammad Zulfikar, Raka Adji
Editor: Anton Santoso
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