The refugees comprised 2,154 male and 2,292 female residents, Ariston Tambengi of the Lokon Disaster Mitigation Post Command`s media center, said here on Friday.
"Thousands of refugees are accommodated at six locations, namely at Tomohon Christian High School (SMA), Binsus Tomohon Christian SMA, Christian 2 Tomohon Vocational High School (SMK) 2, Tomohon Junior High School (SMP) 1, city park, and GMIM 7 Tomohon Elementary School (SD)," Tambengi said.
On Thursday, the number of refugees was 2,510 people being accommodated at four locations. The number increased significantly following the major eruption of the volcano.
"Today, we set up two more refugee camps, namely at city park and SD GMIM 7 Tomohon," Tambengi said.
The refugees are mostly residents of Kinilow I, Kinilow and Kakaskasen I.
Relief aid for the refugees continued to be distributed.
Last Saturday (July 9), Mount Lokon erupted three times.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has raised the status of Mount Lokon in North Sulawesi from standby to alert since Sunday night (July 10) due to its increased activity.
"In connection with the raising of Mount Lokon`s status, we order the local people to evacuate to safer places," Head of Data Center of BNPB Sutopo Purwon Nugroho said in Jakarta, on Monday (July 11).
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.
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.
(SYS/F001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
