Cold lava flood hits Ternate, thousands evacuated

The Jakarta Post Thu, 12/15/2011 11:19 AM


Thousands of residents of Ternate city, North Maluku, were evacuated on Wednesday after a cold lava flood ( also known as lahar) from the recent eruption of Mt. Gamalama destroyed 67 houses and three bridges.

Residents of Tubo, Dufa-Dufa, Loto and Togafo subdistricts were evacuated to shelters provided by the city, Ternate Mayor Burhan Abdurahman said Thursday, tempo.co reported

The Ternate administration has extended the emergency status and implemented its rapid evacuation scheme, Burhan said.

“We call upon residents to remain alert.”