REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Board (BNPB) is prepared for the worst with regard to Mount Slamet in Central Java, said BNPB's spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho here Thursday.

"If it erupts, we, along with five local governments are ready to take responsive action. In addition, BNPB has now supported them with an allocated budget about Rp601 billion," Sutopo added.

Regardless of that, his team has imparted training about disaster awareness and responses through simulation, socialization, disaster area mapping and logistic system structuring along with building evacuation points and emergency posts.

Moreover, disaster simulation has been done in some areas from last year in order to make citizens aware of the safety aspects when there is an eruption, he said.

"The citizens must know where they should run to and how to get to the evacuation post when that happens. We currently have a simulation of that," Sutopo explained.

These preparations have been supported by the local government from the district head to governor, depending on how many areas are impacted, Sutopo asserted.

Mount Slamet, which is located between Banyumas, Purbalingga, Tegal, Brebes and Pemalang districts, erupted on Wednesday (September 17) after its activities had reduced some days ago.

"Mount Slamet erupted at 10.37 am local time with 1.000-meter heat clouds rising from its peak. The next eruption came at 10.47 am," said the head of the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources' Geological Agencies, Surono.

The situation sent many people who lived around the 3.428 meter-high mount into a panic. However, the local government along with BNPB has not yet issued the command for them to evacuate.

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