REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, DENPASAR -- State Electricity Company (PLN) in Bali Province has outlined some strategies to anticipate blackouts after Mount Agung reached a critical stage since Friday (Sept 22), Nyoman Suwarjoni Astana, the general manager, stated here, Tuesday.
"Most locals residing on the foothills of Mount Agung depend on the Amlapura main power station, which is located in a disaster-prone area. Hence, we have taken some preventive measures (to anticipate blackouts)," Astana remarked in Denpasar, Tuesday.
If the volcano erupts, the company will implement safety procedures, such as shutting down power supply in the disaster-prone area.
He further explained that PLN will also supply power to evacuation camps in 13 regions, including Abang, Manggis, Sidemen, Klungkung, Rendang, and Tejakula.
"Apart from the emergency infrastructure, we have readied some 50 disaster mitigation and technical officers to assist the evacuees in the camp," he remarked.
According to Astana, the locals can also call the PLN contact center on 123 to submit reports or complaints after the volcano reached a critical stage.
Other hotline numbers available, include (0366) 25499/25599 for the Klungkung office, (0326) 3436356 for Tejakula, and for the Amlapura main office, the people can contact Ardani on 085238670557.
Although Mount Agung has reached a critical stage, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) on Tuesday has yet to find any volcanic ash spewed from the crater.
"According to images received from the Himawari climate satellite, we have not yet detected the volcanic ash (from Mount Agung)," Head of Denpasar BMKG Taufik Gunawan noted on Tuesday.
The agency further issued a forecast saying that winds reaching speeds of 10-15 knots will move from the northeast, mainly in a highland situated at an altitude of five thousand meters above sea level.
Amid Mount Agung reaching a critical stage, some countries, including the US, UK, and Australia, have issued travel advisories to their citizens to closely monitor the local media, follow instructions issued by the local authority, and avoid affected zones.
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