Jakarta (ANTARA) - The government has stepped up efforts to build temporary housing for people who evacuated to safety following the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki to ensure their comfort and security amid the approach of the rainy season.

"We are speeding up the work of this temporary housing because of the rainy season and ahead of the Christmas holiday," Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Pratikno, said on Monday.

"The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) will immediately build temporary housing," he added.

According to him, based on reports from ministries/technical institutions, the volcano is continuing to erupt, but showing no sign of increased activity.

In addition, the radius for the security area has been reduced, while evacuation services are still being maintained.

The number of centralized evacuees has also shrunk to around 5,117. However, the number of independent evacuees is still high at 6 thousand, the minister informed.

"The number of independent evacuees who join their relatives is higher, more than 6,417 people," he added.

Besides building temporary housing, the government will also assist in the process of independent relocation, home renovation, and preparation for permanent housing.

At a ministerial meeting on Wednesday, Pratikno said that the central and regional governments have mapped out the locations for permanent housing.

"We will further explore the administration and we have discussed it with residents. The dialogue with residents is intensively being carried out to determine permanent housing," he added.

Later, permanent housing will be constructed at several locations, rather than being concentrated in a single area.

Pratikno assured that the data collection process would involve affected residents.

"Once again, the house renovation, independent relocation, the construction of temporary housing, and the construction of permanent housing will be carried out simultaneously," he emphasized.

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Translator: Asep Firmansyah, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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