Vice President Kalla Visits Evacuees of Mt Agung

Karangasem (Antaranews Bali) - Vice President M. Jusuf Kalla visited the local residents displaced by Mount Agung's eruptions at the Tanah Ampo command post, Rendang Village, Manggis Sub-district, Karangasem District, Bali Province, here, Saturday.

The vice president inspected the provision of logistics for the evacuees and inquired about the status from the local officers.

The vice president expressed concern over the condition of evacuees, particularly senior citizens, who have to stay at refugee camps and children, who have not been able to attend school.

Mount Agung has intensified its volcanic activities since September.

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Vice President M Jusuf Kalla on Dec 22 chaired a limited cabinet meeting in Bali to assure the world on the safety of Bali and its readiness to receive as many tourists as possible.

Following the meeting, the government also declared that it had revoked an emergency status of Mount Agung.

The government opined that the emergency status had scared many foreign countries, prompting them to issue a travel warning, travel advisory, or even travel ban, which are unnecessary because most parts of Bali remain safe and unaffected by the eruptions.

Jokowi instructed the Foreign Affairs Minister and Tourism Ministry to inform foreign ambassadors and travel agents that most of Bali's famous tourist destinations were located far from the danger zone of the active volcano and hence, the mount posed no danger to tourists. (WDY)