"In connection with the raising of Mount Lokon status, we order the local people to evacuate to safer places," Head of Data Center of BNPB Sutopo Purwon Nugroho said here on Monday.
He said that the people were also asked to keep watch of the flow of lave through a river which ran down from the peak of Mt Lokon.
Villagers staying in villages outside the Disaster Prone II areas also needed to keep watch over of possible dust, sand and rock rains.
"Yet, the people should remain calm and follow directives provided by the regional government. They should not believe rumors whose sources are not clear," he said.
The regional board of the BNPB (BPBD) of Tomohon city is expected to provide information for the people so that they would get ready to face possible eruption.
Sutopo said the danger threats now were in the form of magmatic eruption accompanied by glowing materials, sand, dust rain and flow of hot lava.
He said that local people as well tourists were called on not to approach and carry out activities within the radius of 3.5 km from the crater.
"Residents are also asked to keep watch of possible lava stream from upstream areas down through the river," he said.
(Uu.A014/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
