The TNI's local Army command deployed personnel to the field on Saturday (November 22) to ensure emergency operations run effectively, safely, and according to community needs.
“Since the eruption, we have assisted in evacuation, secured routes, and ensured aid reaches the affected communities,” commander of sub-regional military command 083/Baladhika Jaya, Colonel Kohir, said in a statement received here on Sunday.
The assessment began at elementary public school SD Negeri 04 Supiturang, one of the main evacuation points, where TNI personnel coordinated with other agencies to ensure health services, daily logistics, protection for vulnerable groups, and shelter readiness.
Soldiers also assisted in securing the area, maintaining mobility, and managing evacuation routes.
As part of humanitarian support, 19 types of aid were distributed, including blankets, infant supplies, children’s clothing, toiletries, staple foods, and other basic necessities.
The team also visited Sumbersari Hamlet in Supiturang Village, one of the areas most heavily affected by volcanic material, to assess homes, ash distribution, evacuation routes, and basic infrastructure to guide post-disaster recovery.
TNI stressed that disaster response requires rapid, measured, and empathetic action. Personnel remain on high alert due to ongoing volcanic activity, focusing on residents’ safety, aid distribution, and regional stability.
According to the Geological Agency, Mount Semeru erupted on Wednesday (November 19) at 4 p.m. local time, producing a column approximately 2,000 meters above the summit.
Hot clouds traveled up to seven kilometers, with thick gray ash directed north and northwest. Seismograph readings showed a maximum amplitude of 40 millimeters over 16 minutes and 40 seconds.
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Translator: Fath, Kenzu
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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