Mud Fires in Sidoarjo Stopped
Wednesday, 08 July, 2009 | 17:13 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Sidoarjo: The fires coming out with the mudflows in Siring Village, Porong Sub-district, Sidoarjo, have finally stopped after the fire company extinguished the fires with three quintals of dried chemical powder.

“Now they have is stopped,” said Mochammad Bisri, commander of the Sidoarjo fire brigade, on Tuesday evening (7/7).

The next step that the local residents and Sidoarjo regency government should do is to make the area free from fire. The mudflows mixed with methane gas can burn easily. Local residents are forbidden to go near the mudflow areas.

In a dialog with the residents, East Java Governor, Soekarwo, who was accompanied by Sidoarjo Regent, Win Hendarso, said that the Siring area has been stated as a sensitive area.

The government should arrange a plan soon to manage the social effects. The local residents should be evacuated and receive compensation. “Let’s solve it in phases,” he said.

The Sidoarjo Mudflow Management Agency (BPLS) earlier has arranged a scheme to distribute compensation for three villages affected by the mudflow including Siring, Jatirejo, and Mindi villages.

Every family will receive Rp500,000 for the evacuation process and Rp2.5 million for renting a house for one year. Every one receives Rp300,000 for living expenses that is sent every month for six months

The Sidoarjo Regent, Win Hendarso, confirmed that the compensation allocated in the state and regional budgets will be distributed this week. “We will think about the next step then,” he said.

Muhammad Taufik