MoSA Distributes Aid to Victims of Mount Ruang Eruption

SIAU TAGULANDANG BIARO ISLANDS (April 19th, 2024) – The Ministry of Social Affairs (MoSA) has distributed various aid to communities affected by Mount Ruang eruption in Siau Tagulandang Biaro (Sitaro) Islands Regency, North Sulawesi Province. This volcano, which is in the middle of Sulawesi waters and is located about 125 nautical miles or a six-hour boat trip from Manado, experienced an explosive eruption since Tuesday (16/4) at 21.45 and continued the next day.

Around 826 people who lived in two villages at the foot of Mount Ruang, namely Laingpatehi Village and Pumpente Village, fled to the nearby island of Tagulandang Island. This island can be reached in about one hour by sea. The Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) stated that the danger radius is around six kilometers from the center of the active crater of Mount Ruang.

Because of this, residents of two villages on the west coast of Tagulandang Island, namely Bahoi Village and Balehumara Village, also fled to the eastern part of Tagulandang Island.

Receiving information about the eruption of Mount Ruang, MoSA immediately dispatched a team to the disaster location, as well as distributing various aid from "Tumou Tou" Center in Manado. “Apart from bringing logistical assistance, we also brought nurses and psychologists. We are working together with the local Health Service to handle refugees," said the Head of "Tumou Tou" Center in Manado, Meerada Saryati Aryani.

It is not easy to reach Tagulandang Island which borders the Southern Philippines since it can only be accessed by sea. For this reason, MoSA collaborated with the Indonesian Navy to bring and distribute aid. "We departed from the Limited Patrol Unit Port (Satroltas), Bitung, Manado to Tagulandang Island using KRI Kakap 811 TNI AL. This sea journey took six hours," said MoSA Task Force, Devario Ardiansyahrul Ozifeira.

Devario added that upon arrival at the port on Tagulandang Island, logistical aid was transported to the evacuation location which was about five kilometers away. Transportation is assisted by using vehicles owned by the local community independently.

MoSA has set up tents for public kitchens and logistics storage for refugees in Apengsala Village, Tagulandang District, Sitaro Islands Regency. Assistance from the logistics warehouse of "Tumou Tou" Center in Manado which was brought to the location in the form of 800 packages of ready-to-eat food, 500 packages of ready-to-eat side dishes, 500 packages of children's food, 100 pieces of blankets, 200 packages of adult clothing, 150 packages of children's clothing, 160 packages of family kits, 100 packages of kids wear, 100 roll-up tents, 20 portable family tents and 5 multi-purpose tents.

MoSA also established a public kitchen to meet the food needs of the refugees. "To meet the needs of public kitchens, MoSA has prepared 1 ton of rice, 900 kg of eggs, as well as a public kitchen car which has started operating this Friday," added Meerada.

Meanwhile, hail from the explosive eruption of Mount Ruang caused PLN to implement a temporary power outage in anticipation of a fire. For this reason, MoSA also brought in 5 additional generators to help with lighting in refugee camps.

Apart from providing logistical assistance, Psychosocial Support Services (LDP) began to be implemented on Friday (19/4). "The LDP is targeting children who are in refugee camps," concluded Meerada.

Public Relations Bureau
Indonesian Ministry of Social Affairs