Description of the emergency and impact
Mount Kelud, one of the active volcanoes in East Java, erupted on 13 February 2014 at 22:50 (local time, Eastern Indonsian Time) or at 15:50 GMT with ash plume reached a height of 17,000 metres and triggered ash fall and volcanic debris travelling as far as 350 kilometres. Even the sound of 8 continuous explosions can be heard in Yogyakarta which is around 235 kilometres in distant. The volcano is known for large explosive eruptions which spewed massive quantity of volcanic materials, followed by cold lahar floods in its main rivers, such as Brantas River.
The Centre for Volcanology and Geologic Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) has raised the status to its higher red-alert (level IV) on the 13 February 2014 at 21:15 local time or at 14:15 GMT. Learning from this case, the affected population only had about an hour for rapid evacuation.
Based on the information National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) as of morning 14 February 2014, the current eruption has forced more than 201,228 people (58,341 households) from 35 villages within 10 kilometres radius to evacuation, especially those living in Kediri, Blitar and Malang districts. PVMBG has not announced whether the last eruption was the biggest one so far, or should there is anticipation for another big eruption in the near future.
At least for the next three days airports operation in East Java, Yogyakarta and Solo are closed due to thick hazardous ash fall and limited visibility.
The most pressing needs
Observing the wide-scale impact of the current eruption, there is concern on the possibility of prolonged temporary displacement, and anticipation for the cold lava floods on several rivers is carefully observed, since it might lead to another disaster. Evacuation posts have been prepared by the local authority in each district to accommodate the population as well as livestock, but the capacities is not sufficient to accommodate sudden evacuation. The most pressing needs are: medical assistance as many accident during evacuation is reported, divans, mattresses, blankets, face masks, specified nutritious food for babies and elderly, water, emergency latrines in evacuation posts, hygiene packages, psychosocial assistance for children and adults, and barrack management exposure for the shelter coordinators
YEU with long-standing expertise in emergency response, supported by the strong connection with local churches and humanitarian affiliates on the ground, are planning to respond to the needs as previously identified since relief support from district/provincial government are still limited in this crisis phase.
National and/or international response
The President of Indonesia has announced National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to provide full support in the response, and instructed West Java Governor to be in place for further support.
YEU Planned Activities
YEU is coordinating closely and maintaining contact with response organisations on the ground, like Humanitarian Forum Indonesia, to identify further response strategies. YEU is deploying Emergency Response Team (ERT) on Saturday (15/2) together with Yakkum’s Panti Waluyo Hospital Solo deliver relief items, such as medicine package (including eye drops), face masks, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene packages, baby packages, and water supply. During the deployment, YEU will also conduct capacity building for volunteers and IDPs on barrack management, health promotion and emergency preparedness.
Constraints
Currently the main obstacle is the wide-spread ash-fall which limits the visibility to travel long distance, especially for deploying ERT and relief goods.