President Has Lunch With Volcano Eruption Evacuees

Batu, E Java, Feb 18 (Antara) - Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono took time to have lunch with the evacuees of the Mount Kelud`s eruption, in Ganesha Sports Hall shelter, here on Tuesday. "We are having the same lunch that the evacuees are having," Yudhoyono stated as he showed his lunch, while visiting the evacuation shelter with the first lady and his entourage. On the occasion, the president`s entourage will also entertain the evacuees, "As a matter of fact, the Cabinet Secretary Sudi Silalahi will sing for the evacuees in the Ganesha shelter." Besides that, the president will also give away free travel tickets to East Java Amusement Park for the evacuees to spend some relaxing time before returning to their homes. Meanwhile, President Yudhoyono briefly expressed his gratitude to the Batu city`s government and citizens who have sheltered the evacuees. "Hopefully Mount Kelud will be back to normal soon, and everybody can go home," he added. Yudhoyono also stated that the government is committed to repair all damaged infrastructure. The first eruption of Mount Kelud in East Java occurred on Thursday, Feb. 13 at 22.50 (GMT+7) with an estimated amount of 120 million to 200 million cubic meters of spewed volcanic material. Mount Kelud`s volcanic ash was reported to have spread across a number of places in East Java, Yogyakarta, Central Java, West Java, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) that is located about 13 thousand kilometers away. This was caused by the eruption that reached a height of 17 kilometers (km), spewing very large volumes of ash materials reaching up to 200 million cubic meters that were blown by the winds to different directions.