"It is not true that a resident living around Mt Lokon who is evacuated to Tomohon City has died because she lacks of food and logistics supplies," the minister said here on Wednesday.
He said that based on the reports he received from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the local government, logistics supplies had been channeled smoothly.
Agung`s statement was reaffirmed by Head of the Data and Information Center of (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.
Sutopo said that Yohana Mawikere (56) was found death in a bath-room at 11.15 pm local time on Tuesday.
Her body was sent to the Bethesda Hospital in Tomohon and based on doctor`s examinations, she died of hypertension and heart failure.
Therefore, the government assured that no resident living around Mt Lokon and evacuated to Tomohon City died of shortage of food.
Around 500 residents living in dangerous areas around Mount Lokon in North Sulawesi have been evacuated to safer places following the raising on Sunday of its standby status to alert one.
"The local residents have been evacuated," Sutopo Purwo said here on Tuesday.
He said that up to now a total of 124 families or some 489 villagers had been evacuated. Some 56 of them were children under five years old.
Sutopo said that BNPB had handed over Rp300 million to the regional disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) as an emergency response fund.
The local government has continued to provide guidance for the local people. "The Tomohon district head has also issued a statement on the emergency response status for Tomohon city," he said.
The BNPB has raised the status of Mount Lokon in North Sulawesi from standby to alert since Sunday night due to its increased activities.
(Uu.A014/H-NG)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
