In his visit to the post, Prof. Kuncoro was welcomed by Yadi, a monitoring post officer, who stated that the post continuously maintains coordination with Regional Disaster Mitigation Board (BPBD) aUNS Semeru Disaster Taskforce was sent following Mount Semeru eruption on 4 December 2021 that claimed the life of local peoples and displaced thousands of locals.nd the volunteers.

“Coordination through five WhatsApp groups, thus after we share, the information will spread. BPBD also distributed HT (handy talky); thus, we always inform when there are pyroclastic flows,” Yadi explained.

The Center for Vulcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation (PVMBG) also prepared Mount Semeru disaster maps and areas that are safe from the disaster.

“There is an update on vulnerable areas, where does the volcanic material reach. On 1 December 2020, there was also an eruption, but the material only filled the Besuk Kobokan river. What we are anticipating is if there is a follow-up (eruption), where does the material will flow,” he added.

This is the reason that December 2021 eruption material filled and spread a few hundred meters from its natural path. Yadi suggested that the local people always be alerted during the activities around the vulnerable areas.

Besides visiting the post, UNS also visited several impacted areas, such as several hamlets in Sumberwuluh Village, Gladak Perak Bridge, and the relocation site in Sumbermujur Village. Humas UNS

Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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UNS Semeru Disaster Taskforce had performed its duty in the affected areas from 5 December 2021. UNS was represented by the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Affairs (Vice-Rector 3), Prof. Kuncoro Diharjo, and the village government was represented by Sumberwuluh Village Secretary, Samsul Arifin.

Prof. Kuncoro stated that UNS would continue coordinating with the local government.

“Our next focus is on post-disaster recovery. We will start coordinating with the local government. What we could help in the post-disaster mitigation, especially in the relocation areas at the temporary shelter that will become their permanent residence,” Prof. Kuncoro stated.

Samsul Arifin delivered his gratitude to volunteers from UNS who have helped the evacuation process and post-disaster mitigation processes.

“The volunteers greatly helped the local government and the local people in handling the disaster. We extended our greatest gratitude. Currently, our homework (in post-disaster handling) is long and hard. But hard work will become easy if we do together,” Samsul Arifin stated.

The volunteer team from UNS consisted of medical components, trauma healing, and rescuer. UNS also visited the affected areas such as hamlets in Sumberwuluh Village, Gladak Perak Bridge, relocation area in Sumbermujur Village, and Mount Semeru monitoring post in Gunung Sawur. Humas UNS

Reporter: Bayu Aji Prasetya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Affairs UNS, Prof. Dr. Kuncoro Diharjo, S.T., M.T. explained that this second operation is medical support instead of evacuation. Prof. Kuncoro emphasizes this to the 13 volunteers who will work in the next ten days.

“I emphasized once more that according to the guideline from the university executives, your main duty is assisting the healthcare team and dan trauma healing. But if evacuation is unavoidable, it does not rule out the possibility to move (into that duty),” Prof. Kuncoro stated.

Prof. Kuncoro also explained that the 2nd batch of taskforce consists of 13 volunteers. Three volunteers from VAGUS, three volunteers from SAR UNS, two volunteers from UNS Alumni Association (IKA), two people from KSR UNS, and three people from the Disaster Study Center (PSB) LPPM UNS. These 13 volunteers will join five medical volunteers from UNS Hospital stationed in the affected locations.

The team also brought a stress healing team from PSB LPPM UNS and KSR UNS. Prof. Kuncoro mentioned that he had contacted the Central Java Police Chief who had sent a trauma healing team to the location. “I hope UNS trauma healing team contact Central Java Police to collaborate,” Prof. Kuncoro added.

The stress healing team was added to the second batch based on the need analysis in the affected areas. The local people affected by the eruption have started to feel the social impact of the disaster, as reported by the first batch Commando for Semeru Taskforce, Agung.

“Currently, ten days after the eruption, possible because of the environmental condition and the affected people, they started to get physical and psychological issues. That is why we have a complete team from medical personnel and psychologists,” Agung stated.

The second batch of UNS Semeru Taskforce departed to the UNS health post in SMP 1 Candipuro, Lumajang District, East Java. The post sheltered 1,154 evacuees of the Mount Semeru eruption. The team also received one house in the local housing as their center for coordination.

Besides sending the volunteers, the ceremony also handed donations collected from three institutes: Lazis UNS and Unit Pengumpul Zakat (UPZ) with IDR 25 million donations, Dharma Wanita Persatuan (DWP) UNS with IDR 20 million donations, and IKA UNS with IDR 5 million donations. Humas UNS

Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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Prof. Kuncoro stated that the UNS volunteer team was helping the evacuation of local people in the Kamar Kajang area, Sumberwuluh, Candipuro Subdistrict, Lumajang District, East Java. The team succeeded in evacuating two people left in the hamlet before bringing them to the safe meeting spot to undergo a medical check. The team returned to the hamlet to ensure that nobody was left and found that everyone had evacuated. The team was driving back to the post when the volcanic mudflow entered the hamlet and trapped their 4×4 Toyota Hilux.

“The car was stuck on stones from the volcanic mudflow, it was hard to move, and the mud was getting high. They need to think for safety; thus, the driver and rescuer saved themselves because once the mud is high, they won’t be able to open the door and get out; it was riskier. They run to a safe sport. The car was left behind,” Prof. Kuncoro explained.

The driver and rescuer are safe from the volcanic mudflow. However, their car was buried deep in the volcanic materials. Prof. Kuncoro greatly appreciated the struggle of the UNS team sent to Mount Semeru, which he considers as the maximum efforts from UNS Taskforce for Natural Disaster.

“I think this is the maximum effort from the rescuers in the field. We could imagine if we did not move, the life of those two locals could be at risk; we never know. This is unexpected. At least we have given our optimum efforts to save two people,” he added.

Several efforts have been taken to evacuate the buried car with the help of other SAR teams and the Indonesia Offroad Federation (IOA) team. However, the hot volcanic material and the sinking motion of the mud caused by footsteps proved that it is harder than one’s expectation. However, a plan has been set to dig the car using excavating equipment.

“Yesterday, there was an evacuation effort taken by IOF to help, but it was hard because the car was buried in solid mud. It was not successful. We hope that today excavator could be sent there to evacuate the car. The car could be fixed as used again,” Prof. Kuncoro concluded.

UNS Taskforce for Semeru disaster was sent to Lumajang District, East Java, on Sunday (5/12/2021). The team has 15 members, three doctors, two nurses, five medical personnel, three rescuers, and two Alumni Association (IKA) UNS volunteers. The team will conduct their duties in the next ten days before the new team takes their position. Currently, the team has one fully functioning ambulance. Humas UNS

Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

The post UNS Taskforce for Natural Disaster Car Caught in Semeru Volcanic Mudflow in Evacuation: The Maximum Efforts from University appeared first on Universitas Sebelas Maret.

The Team consists of ten members: three volunteers from Badan Koordinasi Pelaksana (Bakorlak) SAR UNS, five volunteers from the Faculty of Medical Science (FK) UNS, and two volunteers from the Alumni Association (IKA) UNS. The sendoff ceremony was held symbolically by the Vice-Rector for Research and Innovation Affairs UNS Prof. Kuncoro Diharjo, in the lobby of dr. Prakosa Rectorate Building.

On this occasion, he stated that the Team would conduct a ten-day operation and would come back to Solo to be replaced by a different Team. To support the evacuation process at the eruption-impacted areas, the Team was equipped with two cars, one ambulance, 3,000 face masks, three jerrycans of disinfectant, seven oxygen cylinders, and medicines.

“The disaster-affected areas are locations that are not conducive. I really hope and truly ask you, please keep your Team member, stay healthy, stay together, and stay safe,” Prof. Kuncoro stated.

To the volunteers, the Vice-Rector mentioned that their departure to the eruption-affected areas had been supported by many people, including local IKA UNS. The Semeru Rescue Team will receive a home base facility in several houses and clinics to be set as their posts that support their mobility during the evacuation process.

“We have alumni there who will provide house and clinic as your home base. Use the posts as best as you can to support our operation, where our cars go today, where our Team goes today. These vehicles are vital,” Prof. Kuncoro stated.

On the same occasion, the Chief of Operation Division Bakorlak SAR UNS Agung Nugeroho reminded the volunteers to stay safe, especially considering that there are areas with no connectivity and the danger of volcanic mudflow continues to threaten certain areas.

“I hope all of you who will be in the field keep maintaining your movement, always report, for example, if any of you about to go somewhere, make sure there are people to oversee. Protect one another,” Agung Nugeroho added.

The Team will depart to Surabaya using the toll road in a three-hour journey, then departing to Leces Subdistrict, Probolinggo District before entering Lumajang District. Humas UNS

Reporter: Y.C.A. Sanjaya
Editor: Dwi Hastuti

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