Merapi stabilizing, emergencies under control: SBY

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono says it is now safe for him leave to attend the G-20 and APEC summits in South Korea and Japan, citing reports that Mount Merapi’s recent volcanic activity and associated relief efforts had stabilized.

Two hours before his departure on Thursday, Yudhoyono told a press conference that based on reports he had received from Indonesian volcanology center chief Surono on Wednesday evening, the Merapi situation was improving.

“We do not expect the Mount Merapi’s activity to change dramatically over the next two days," he said at the Presidential Office.

“The top alert status for [Merapi] will remain in place, and while there is no indication of worsening conditions, there is also no indication [the eruptions] will end soon.

“The analysis shows its activity has stabilized and there is a tendency [for such situations] to improve.”

Citing reports from National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Syamsul Maarif, Yudhoyono also said the needs of 370,000 Merapi refugees were being handled relatively well.

“There have been some problems, but those are inevitable given the emergency situation.”

He said the administration had worked well in its handling of the aftermath of the tsunami in Mentawai, West Sumatra, and flash floods in Wasior, West Papua.

Yudhoyono instructed Coordinating People's Welfare Minister Agung Laksono to inspect all the three disaster-hit areas to monitor disaster relief efforts and rehabilitation activities.

He added he should attend the G-20 and APEC summits because of the “urgency” and importance of the meetings for Indonesia’s national interests.