Mount Merapi Erupts Against Middle of Pandemic COVID-19

Mount Merapi is one of the active volcanoes, located on the border of the Special Region of Yogyakarta and Central Java, which again caused local residents to tumble because on Friday (10/4) erupted again at 09.10 WIB. When an eruption occurs, the direction of the wind goes to the northwest. Launching the official social media page of the Center for Investigation and Development of Geological Disaster Technology (BPPTKG), the eruption was recorded on a seismograph. The eruption amplitude this time reached 75 millimeters (mm) with a duration of 103 seconds. While the eruption column height reaches three kilometers (km) from the top of the mountain. As a result of this eruption, on Saturday night (11/4), precisely in districts of Magelang three , experienced thin volcanic ash rain with a radius of 20 km.

It was noted that since April 2, at 15.10 WIB with column level reaching 3,000 Mount Merapi, it had indeed experienced an eruption. Despite several eruptions, the status of Mount Merapi has not changed since it was set on alert or level II status on May 21, 2018.

Along with being pandemics COVID-19 make people more frantic. Yogyakarta BPPTKG appealed for the community to remain calm and not panic in facing this disaster. If there is ash rain, people are asked to wear masks and goggles when outdoors activities.

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has also thought of anticipating natural disaster relief in the midst of a coronavirus pandemic or COVID-19. Quoting from tribunnews.com, BNPB invited various parties from ministries, institutions, universities, and disaster practitioners to discuss the topic through digital space on Wednesday (4/15/2020).

Indonesia’s biggest challenge is facing natural disaster management in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic that has been spoken by disaster practitioners, Said Faisal, challenges that must be faced in overcoming them include organization, budget, regulation, and logistics. It is hoped that it can remain focused in dealing with COVID-19 as well as preparing the preparation of mechanisms and resources to anticipate and handle natural disasters. (MAI/AWS).