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BNPB installs six sirens, 54 danger warning signs on Mount Agung
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Showing empathy: President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo, accompanied by Klungkung Regent I Nyoman Suwirta, talks to some residents who take refuge at Swecapura Sport Hall in Klungkung, Bali, on Sept.26. Jokowi told residents to follow instruction from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) to minimize casualties from the imminent eruption of Mount Agung. (The Jakarta Post/Zul Trio Anggono)
T
o give people early warning of the eruption of Mount Agung in Karangasem, Bali, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has installed sirens at six points around the danger zones of the volcano.
The sirens called “iRaditif (iCast Rapid Deployment Notification System)” are mobile sirens that can be moved using a vehicle.
The sirens are installed at the stations of Selat Police, Rendang Police, Tianyar Police, Kubu Police, and Abang and Karangasem military district commands (Koramil).
BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the agency brought the sirens to Karangasem from its equipment warehouse in Sentul, Bogor, after the alert status of Mt. Agung was increased to “Awas [highest level]” last week.
He said the sound of the siren could be heard within a radius of two kilometers, and potentially further depending on the wind .
“The installation of the sirens is to give people a warning of the eruption of Mt. Agung. They are similar with tsunami sirens but can be moved to other places. Their function is not to detect when a volcano will erupt but to give signs of danger,” said Purwo on Saturday.
He said the sirens worked manually. They would release warning sounds only after siren operators activated them when instructed by officials at Tanah Ampo Main Post in Karangasem, that is connected to the Mt. Agung observation post.
Purwo said the BNPB had also installed warning signs at 54 points that were considered dangerous. “You are within a 9km radius from the top of Mt. Agung,” they read. (ebf)
