Bali volcano evacuees outside danger zone told to go home- Geologist Warns Volcano Recharging

Bali News and Views Editor's Comments: 

I can confirm after visiting one of the evacuation shelters this morning many of the evacuees are from homes more  than 12 km from the Volcano and need not evacuate.

After taking photos of Agung from 20 km away at the Official Govt Monitoring site I was interviewed by the Balinese Tourism Board who asked me if I felt safe .

I answered " My family and I live 50 Km from the volcano, even closer than most Southern Bali tourist resorts and I feel completely safe because the last time the danger zone was no further than 12 Km from the crater"



Later we continued on to the official government monitoring station and spoke directly to Martanto the geologist in charge.












After he showed us the equipment watching seismic activity, magma etc.
He expressed concerned that refugees may feel safe to return home because of reduced activity but in fact the Volcano is probably recharging and could explode at any time.

With those words my family and I abruptly left and drove down to our home 50 Km away.

Bali volcano evacuees outside danger zone told to go home

By AFP

PUBLISHED: 05:01 BST, 30 September 2017 | UPDATED: 05:16 BST, 30 September 2017

 
 
 
 
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A man sits next to a paddy field in front of Mount Agung volcano on Bali island, as authorities tell evacuees who live outside the danger zone to return home

More than 144,000 people have fled from a rumbling volcano on popular tourist island Bali, but officials Saturday urged evacuees who live outside the immediate danger zone to return home.

Mount Agung, 75 kilometres (47 miles) from the tourist hub of Kuta, has been shaking since August, causing fears it could erupt for the first time since 1963 and triggering the highest possible alert level eight days ago.

But officials say the number of evacuees has grown too high, and only people who live within nine kilometres of the crater should remain in temporary shelters or with friends and relatives further afield.

"There is no reason for people who live in the safe zone to evacuate. They need to go back to their village because they will become a burden," Bali's governor I Made Mangku Pastika said.

Only 70,000 people live within the nine-kilometre radius affected by Mount Agung's volcanic activity, meaning more than half of the evacuees can return to their houses, the government said.

"Only people from 27 villages must evacuate. The rest can go home. They can either go home independently or with the help of the government," said national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

The activity of Mount Agung remains high but stable, said the Indonesian Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation. There were fewer than 200 tremors between midnight and 6am on Saturday -- slightly below the level of seismic activity observed Wednesday and Thursday, it said.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

In 2010, Mount Merapi on the island of Jaya erupted after rumbling since 2006, while Mount Sinabung on Sumatra island -- which is currently also on the highest alert level -- has been active since 2013.

"There are no visual signs yet that Mount Agung will erupt soon. So don't be afraid to come to Bali, it's still safe. And if the mountain erupts, it's still safe as long as people stay out of the dangerous zone," Nugroho said.

One of the best feelings in life is seeing the smiles when you help others that are less fortunate.

The day after the Bali Govt. announced they were going to evacuate 10’s of thousands of Balinese living within a 12 Km perimeter of Mount Agung earlier this week my Assistant Manager Gede and I at PT. Bali Luxury Villas decided to raise money and support for over 40,000 evacuees.

 Our company, staff and villa owners made contributions of cash plus items that would probably not be provided by the Govt. such a coffee, snacks, cooking oil, towels, pillows and toys for the children.

 This morning we drove up to deliver all the goods to The Banjar Tegak in Akah village who were very thankful for the contributions.

 In addition we took plenty of photos to bring to entice others to contribute.

 Our son Xander even piloted a drone around the hall to the delight of both parents and children.

 

We will be accepting cash and goods donations 24 hrs 7 days a week at our Emerald Villas Head office Jalan Karangsari # 5, Sanur, Bali.

These people are very poor and will welcome anything you can spare.

All donations will be personally delivered by Wayan one of our managers who is a Balinese priest.

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