Bobby Orders Evacuation of Sinabung’s Red Zone: ‘If Necessary, Force It’

North Sumatra Governor Muhammad Bobby Afif Nasution has ordered authorities to accelerate the evacuation of residents in Mount Sinabung’s red zone, saying officials should use force if necessary to protect them.

“Prioritize the safety of lives. For people in vulnerable zones, communicate the warning intensively. If activity increases, use firm appeals, and if necessary, force it for their own good and safety,” Bobby said while leading an emergency coordination meeting in Karo district on Tuesday.

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The safety of lives must be the top priority. All regional government units and the regional leadership forum must ensure residents’ needs are met during the evacuation process.

He instructed local authorities and the regional leadership forum to meet residents’ needs throughout the evacuation. The North Sumatra government will provide logistics, evacuation equipment and operational support for personnel. Bobby also demanded adequate conditions in shelters, telling officials not to provide facilities “half-heartedly” and to use public funds to ensure residents receive proper and comfortable accommodation.

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Prioritize the safety of lives. For people in vulnerable zones, communicate the warning intensively. If activity increases, use firm appeals, and if necessary, force it for their own good and safety.

The Center for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation raised Sinabung’s status from Level II, alert, to Level III, standby, effective August 31 at 12:30 p.m. local time. The decision followed an ash column reaching 3,500 meters above the summit and continuing volcanic earthquake activity.

Armen Putra, head of the Sinabung observation post, said visual and seismic monitoring indicated magma was moving toward the surface. A hotspot recorded the previous night suggested lava had reached the surface, he said. If a new lava dome becomes blocked while underground pressure continues to rise, it could break apart the old dome and trigger an eruption as large as those seen in 2019 and 2020.

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Do not provide facilities for displaced people half-heartedly. Use the budget properly and provide facilities that are decent and comfortable.

Karo Regent Antonius Ginting said evacuation efforts were focused on Kuta Tengah village, which is surrounded by the red zone after the danger area was adjusted to six kilometers. Officials plan to evacuate 140 households, or about 684 people. More than 260 residents had been moved by Tuesday afternoon to shelters at the Korpri building and Jambur in Suka Nalu village.

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Last night a hotspot was recorded, which means the lava has reached the surface. If the formation of a new lava dome is blocked and internal earthquake pressure continues to increase, it could break apart the old lava dome and potentially trigger a fairly large eruption like those in 2019 and 2020.