... will implement emergency response operations for 14 days, from July 18 to August 1, to mitigate the effects of the eruption of Mount Gamalama...Ternate, North Maluku (ANTARA News) - The Ternate Disaster Mitigation Board (BPBD) evacuated 200 householders --more than 700 people-- affected by the eruption of Mount Gamalama on Saturday, Head of Ternate's BPBD Hasyim Yusuf said.
"The Ternate city government will implement emergency response operations for 14 days, from July 18 to August 1, to mitigate the effects of the eruption of Mount Gamalama," Yusuf remarked here on Saturday.
The refugees were evacuated from the districts of Takome, Loto, and Togafo, which were affected by the volcanic ash spewed by Mount Gamalama in Ternate, North Maluku, in the last three days. The ashes are hazardous for their health.
The government has provided the refugees shelter in four locations. They are the Ternate Navy Headquarters, a hall at Sanggar Kegiatan Belajar, a hall in state vocational school 2, and a hall at the Department of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
Moreover, the government is also organizing relief funds and deploying dozens of operational cars to evacuate the refugees.
Mount Gamalama erupted at 5:00 pm local time (GMT+8) on Saturday, spewing volcanic ashes to heights of some 500 meters from its crater.
According to Head of the Mount Gamalama Observation Post Darno Lamane, the volcano erupted at 8:10 am local time and spewed volcanic ashes to heights of some 800 meters from its caldera.
The observation post recorded 15 volcanic tremors of amplitudes between 0.5 and 1.5 millimeters, with an earthquake that lasted for 26.16 to 62.12 seconds.
In addition, the chief executive of unit management of Ternate's Sultan Baabullah Airport, Rasburhany, said that the closure of the airport had been extended till Sunday, July 19, evening.
Reporter: Abdul Fatah
Editor: Ade P Marboen
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