OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Indonesia: Mt. Kelud Volcano
17 October 2007


This update is prepared by the UN Humanitarian/Resident Coordinator's 
Office in Jakarta based on the information provided by the National 
Coordinating Agency for Disaster Management (BAKORNAS PB), the 
Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and media reports.

SITUATION

1. On 16 October 2007 at 18:00 hrs, the Directorate for Volcanology and 
Geological Hazard Management in Bandung, West Java Province, raised the 
alert status of Kelud Volcano to the highest Level 4. This indicates 
that an eruption is imminent. Mount Kelud is located approximately 90 
kilometres southwest of Surabaya in East Java.

2. The Indonesian Red Cross (Palang Merah Indoensia - PMI) reported that 
the number of shallow volcanic tremors has increased from 11 on 14 
October to 306 yesterday. The temperature of water in the crater has 
increased from 36o C on 15 October to 37.8o C on 16 October.

3. BAKORNAS PB reported that the local authorities in Kediri and Blitar 
Districts commenced the evacuation of 116,736 people residing within the 
radius 10 km from the volcano's crater. The order was issued at 1900hrs 
on 16 October to the residents of four sub-districts in Kediri (Ngancar, 
Plosok Klaten, Puncu, and Kepung) and three sub-districts in Blitar 
(Nglegok, Garung, and Gondosari). The evacuees are being relocated to 
schools, religious buildings, plantation areas and other facilities 
prepared by the local government located within 10 km radius from the 
crater.

4. Indonesian media reported that the eruption of Mt. Kelud may affect 
as many as 290,000 people. This number includes 251,622 residents in ten 
sub-districts of the Blitar district (Talun, Nglegok, Gandusari, Garum, 
Ponggok, Srengat, Udanawu, Sanankulon, Wonodadi, and Kanigoro) and 
38,170 people in four sub-districts of the Kediri district (Ngancar, 
Plosoklaten, Pundu, and Kepung).

NATIONAL RESPONSE

1. BAKORNAS PB deployed one Deputy and two staff to the vicinity of Mt. 
Kelud two weeks ago to strengthen coordination mechanisms and 
cooperation with the local authorities. Another BAKORNAS team is to be 
deployed on 17 October.

2. SATKORLAK PB East Java Province has already established command posts 
in Blitar and Kediri districts.

3. Department of Social Affairs has prepared 100 tons of rice at each 
district level and 200 tons rice at provincial level. Tents for public 
kitchen, clothing, ready-to-eat meals for IDPs, and 1.5 tons baby food 
supplement have also been prepared for distribution.

4. Department of Health has mobilized 50 medical doctors and 50 medical 
staff for 41 medical services in Kediri and Blitar with the support from 
the community health posts (Puskesmas).  100,000 masks have also been 
distributed in Kediri, Blitar and Malang districts.  50 medical doctors 
have been prepared and deployed in Blitar and Kediri.

5. Department of Public Works has built 135 'pockets' through six rivers 
to manage the flow of some 21.3 million cubic meters of volcanic 
materials. Bulldozers were also put on stand by.

6. PMI Kediri Branch has mobilized 100 volunteers to assist in the 
evacuation and mobilized one truck with ten SATGANA (Disaster Response 
Teams) with equipment.  In Blitar, PMI dispatched five platoon tents, 
mobilized two operational vehicles and one truck and put 15 personnel 
and 50 more volunteers on stand by. In Malang, PMI put 30 SATGANA and 
their equipment on stand by.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

1. The Government of Indonesia has not issued a request for 
international assistance at this stage.

2. The United Nations is considering sending a small team from WFP and 
UNICEF Surabaya field offices to assess the situation and advise on gaps 
and priority needs.

3. The UN HC/RC Office is closely monitoring the situation with 
pertinent Government and non-government institutions including the 
Indonesian Red Cross.

For further information, please contact:

UN RC/HC Office Jakarta
Mr. Abdul Haq Amiri
tel. +62 21 314 1308
mob.+62 812 10 87 277

Ms. Titi Moektijasih
tel. +62 21 314 1308
fax. +62 21 319 00 003
mob. +62 811 98 76 14


Desk Officer:

New York
Mr. Wojtek Wilk
tel. +1 917 367 3748

Geneva
Mr. Jean Verheiden
tel. +41 22 917 1381

Regional Office Bangkok
Mr. Rajan Gengaje
tel. +66 2 288 2572


Press contact:

Geneva
Ms. Elizabeth Byrs
tel. +41 22 917 2653

New York
Ms. Stephanie Bunker
tel. + 1 917 367 5126

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