Jakarta (ANTARA) – The Ministry of Health has activated the Health Emergency Operating Center (HEOC) and prepared nebulizers, oxygen concentrators, eye drops, and skin ointments in response to the health impacts of the Mount Anak Krakatau eruption.
In a press conference in Jakarta on Sunday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said the eruption has impacted health, including respiratory, eye, and skin health.
“We will also immediately issue a circular to provide detailed guidance to healthcare workers in all affected districts/cities,” he continued.
To reduce the impact, he urged residents to stay indoors. Those who need to go outside should wear masks and glasses to protect themselves from volcanic ash particles.
“If you experience skin irritation, clean the affected area immediately after returning home. If you feel unwell, seek treatment at a community health center. We have prepared nebulizers and oxygen concentrators for respiratory problems, eye drops for eye irritation, and ointments for skin problems,” the minister pointed out.
He also advised people not to rub their eyes if volcanic ash gets into them. Instead, they should rinse their eyes with water or eye drops, or seek treatment at a community health center.
On the same occasion, the Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Suharyanto, said his agency was taking several measures to respond to the situation, such as weather modification operations.
“There are two techniques for weather modification. The first is to induce rain. If sufficient rain falls, the volcanic ash that has affected us since yesterday can be quickly washed away,” he noted.
If no rain clouds develop over Jakarta, Banten, and Lampung, his agency, together with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), will use water mist to disperse dangerous volcanic ash particles.
“We have also begun distributing logistical needs to the public, such as basic necessities and masks, in coordination with the Health Ministry and related authorities,” he added.
Currently, the BMKG is intensifying 24-hour monitoring of the development of Mount Anak Krakatau’s eruptive activity and its impact on the atmosphere, aviation, and sea conditions around the Sunda Strait.
Based on satellite imagery analyzed at 8 a.m. local time, BMKG identified two volcanic ash clusters over Banten, Jakarta, West Java, and Bengkulu, according to a press release issued by the agency in Jakarta on Sunday.
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Translator: Mecca Yumna, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Primayanti
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