VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) is still calculating the losses caused by  the Sunda Strait tsunami that hit five districts in the Indonesian provinces of Banten and Lampung, according to BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

"From the calculation, we will determine the cost for rehabilitation and reconstruction, so that the government can prepare a budget," Nugroho stated in Jakarta on Wednesday.

He mentioned that some of the facilities most needed for disaster management in tsunami-affected areas, especially Pandeglang district, are temporary housing or refugee camps as well as temporary classes for children.

He also mentioned that more than 11 thousand refugees in Pandeglang district currently took shelter in some 41 school buildings that have not been used due to New Year holidays.

"However, on Monday (Jan 7), the students will start going to school, and so the refugees need to be moved," he explained.

He further revealed that some refugees in Pandeglang district took shelter in school buildings not because their houses were damaged, but they were traumatized by the tsunami. Some of them were also afraid of the possibility of a subsequent tsunami.

"Therefore, the local government of Pandeglang district will ask them to return to their respective homes," Nugroho added.

The Sunda Strait tsunami occurred following an eruption and partial collapse of the Anak Krakatau volcano on Saturday (Dec 22).

Five districts are affected in the two tsunami-hit provinces, namely Pandeglang and Serang in Banten Province as well as South Lampung, Pesawaran, and Tanggamus in Lampung Province. (ANTARA)