REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono called on the people to help alleviate the burden of disaster victims in the country such as the victims of Mount Kelud and Maunt Sinabung eruptions and other natural disasters.

"Through this podium, I call on the people to help our brothers who need assistance. Your preparedness to provide assistance is very noble," the President said when addressing the "Cap Go Meh" celebration to mark the 15th day after the Chinese New Year, here on Friday.

President Yudhoyono said that the central and local governments were working hard to handle the victims of disasters. But the assistance of the people could help nurture the sense of solidarity.

According to Yudhoyono, the eruption of MT Kelud in East Java has forced over 100,000 residents to evacuate. The number will continue to increase if the eruptions are still taking place.

Vice President Boediono and a number of cabinet ministers also attended the celebration.

This was the seventh time President Yudhoyono's attended the celebration during his presidency.

This year's event carried the theme "Indonesia One Indonesia Glorious."

Organizing Committee chairman Murdaya Po began his speech by expressing his sympathies with fellow citizens now suffering due to natural disasters in regions throughout the country.

As part of the nation, he said, the Chinese community in Indonesia shared their suffering.

He added that it was undeniable that the Chinese community is one of the national groups that has, from the beginning, also taken part in establishing the country.

Mount Kelud in East Java erupted on Thursday night producing molten lava and black smoke.

The molten lava was seen clearly from the sub-district of Talun, in Blitar, East Java, around 15-20 kilometers from the mountain.

Antara reporter from Blitar said people were running from their homes and some hitting electricity poles to alert others that the mountain had really erupted as has been reported since 10.56pm local time.

Three people have reportedly died in the Sugihwaras Village, Kediri, East Java, located seven kilometers from the Mount Kelud crater, according to information revealed by the Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

On Friday, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a BNPB spokesperson noted here that based on verification data, three died and 76,388 people had been evacuated after Mount Kelud erupted on Thursday night, (Feb. 13).

The three victims were identified as Mbok Nya (60), who died due to the ill-effects of the volcanic ash, Sahiri (70) who died after being fatally hit by a wall while awaiting an evacuation car, and Sanusi (80) who died due to the volcanic ash, while seeking refuge under a table.

"The thickness of the volcanic ash in the Sugihwaras village reached 20 centimeters," Sutopo reported.

As of Friday night, Sutopo added that the BNPB and local officers still continue to evacuate people living in the 10-kilometer radius of the Mount Kelud crater.

According to the latest data on the evacuation status, 76,388 people had been evacuated from five districts, which comprised 66,139 people from the Kediri District, 3,220 people from Batu City, 2,070 people from the Blitar District, 3,610 people from the Malang District, and 1,349 people from the Tulungagung District.

The Mount Kelud eruption spewed up to 80 cubic meters of volcanic material, such as ash and sand.

Until Friday night, the BNPB reported tremors and gust of ash still happening around the Mount Kelud area, hence the alert status is still enforced.

East Java Governor Soekarwo stated the emergency status will be in effect between February 13 and March 12, 2014, and the authorities had provided 350 thousand masks to the residents.

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