Mother, Daughter Found Hugging in Ruins After Semeru Eruption

TheIndonesia.id - Two victims were found hugging each other during evacuation after the Mount Semeru eruption. The mother and daughter who died in the disaster were found in the ruins of family home in Curah Kobokan village, Candipuro subdistrict, Lumajang, East Java.

As reported by Hops.id, 28-year-old Rumini was with her mother Salamah when the eruption occurred. The elderly already had a walking difficulty, and the daughter decided to stay with her while other residents rushed to save themselves.

A family relative retold the moment he first found the bodies of his two family members. “This morning, I looked for my sister-in-law and niece. When we searched through the kitchen wall, we saw the hand [of one of the victims],” Legiman said on Sunday, December 5. He predicted Rumini decided against leaving her mother who couldn’t run due to her old age.

After being found, the two victims were immediately evacuated and buried.

Meanwhile, Legiman confirmed that Rumini’s husband and child are safe and have been taken to health facility to receive treatment.

On Saturday, December 4, Mount Semeru in Lumajang erupted and claimed the lives of 15 people. 5,205 people are impacted by disaster while 27 are declared missing. The Lumajang District Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) has also revealed that 2,970 houses were destroyed by hot clouds from the volcano. At least 13 public facilities like bridges, schools, and places of worships are also damaged.

Evacuation effort continues with the involvement of ministries, state agencies, and other institutions. The Indonesian Red Cross, or PMI, is gearing up to send more aids and assistance to help evacuate residents affected by the eruption.

“For evacuation support, we’re ready if more [aid] is needed. Ambulances in East Java, Lumajang, and Malang [will be prepared],” PMI’s secretary-general Sudirman Said said in Jakarta on Sunday.

At least 20 ambulances are at the ready, and PMI will also send 2 Hagglund units to assist evacuation in the more difficult areas and conditions. A number of tanks of freshwater have been shipped from Gresik for evacuees.