Amount of Hot Mudflow Refugees Increase
Monday, 27 November, 2006 | 18:22 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta: The spreading of Lapindo hot mudflow post-explosion of Pertamina’s gas pipe forced the residents of Kedungbendo and Renokenongo villages to evacuate.

The mudflows also flooded half of the Tanggulangin Anggun Sejahtera housing complex in Sidoarjo.

Mudflows of more than half a meter in depth flooded 6,048 houses in this complex.

“The residents were evacuated to Pasar Baru, which was previously a shelter for 2,605 families whose houses were flooded by the mudflows,” said Syaiful Illah, Deputy Regent of Sidoarjo, yesterday (26/11).

From Tempo’s monitoring, the refugees came continuously by trucks, public cars and motorcycles.

They straightaway occupied the market kiosks and stalls by spreading out mats and pillows for sleeping.

Government officials appeared to be busy preparing mass kitchens and supplying rice, instant noodles, cooking oil and other needs.

“We took the food from the Sidoarjo Social Service emergency response stock,” said Syaiful.

“There hasn’t been any aid provided yet by Lapindo.”

In the mean time, the National Team for Mudflow Relief in Sidoarjo has not been able to block mudflows in the area of the gas pipe explosion on Wednesday (22/11).

The absence of dikes made it easy for hot mudflows from the center to flow in all directions in Kedungbendo and Renokenongo villages.

There was also a threat of mudflows in Gempol Sari and Kalitengah villages, Tanggulangin subdistrict.

These two villages that are near the mud disposal via spillway are not safe because the mud sucking machine was jammed.

“Now we are focusing on building up the dike near Renokenongo village. Regarding the main dike in the gas pipe explosion location, we are waiting for confirmation that the location is not dangerous anymore,” said Basuki Hadi Muljono, Executing Head of National Team for Mudflow Relief.

The SAR team had to temporarily stop looking for victims.

“The hot mudflows often made us have to stop the search to find victims,” said Moch. Hernanto, Section Head of National SAR Agency Operation.

With two victims not yet found, the number of dead victims is 11 out of 13 who were reported missing.

Rohman Taufiq