Geological Agency, churches team up on Mt Lewotobi alertsJakarta (ANTARA) - The Geological Agency of the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM) worked with religious institutions, including local churches, to disseminate awareness about the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT).Head of the Geological Agency, Muhammad Wafid, in a virtual press conference on Tuesday, conveyed that church involvement is crucial since many places of worship were directly affected by Lewotobi's major eruption in late 2024. "At that time, I coordinated with the bishop since a church was damaged by the eruption. We ensured that the congregation received mitigation information through religious channels," Wafid noted.He added that the ESDM Minister also established communication with the community to ensure safety and strengthen the psychological well-being of residents in evacuation centers.During the crisis, his agency expanded the danger zone radius to nine kilometers. These technical recommendations were consistently communicated to local governments and religious institutions to ensure that the public complied with evacuation instructions.Besides technical coordination, the Geological Agency also supports the provision of basic necessities for residents in evacuation sites, including the construction of groundwater drilling points for daily needs.Based on data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), more than two thousand residents in East Flores District have been displaced due to the eruption of Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki since November 2024. Translator: Resinta SulistiyandariEditor: Arie NovarinaCopyright © ANTARA 2025