Sidoarjo, NU Online
House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Agung Laksono expressed concern over the mudflow in Sidoarjo district, East Java, as the way to overcome the problem had yet to make a success and thus he called for harder effort to deal with it effectively.

"I see there have been hard works of the national team, the government and Lapindo in dealing with the mudflow, but they have not been successful although they have used all means and alternative ways," Agung said here Friday (13/10) when visiting the location where the mud continued to flow.

<>The House speaker said the government and relevant parties had also been anticipating rainfalls which were feared to bring about new problems. "We hope more efforts can be made to overcome the mudflow soon as it has covered 450 hectares of areas," he added.

As reported by the national news agency Antara, Agung Laksono further said the most important measure to avert more victims was relocating people to safer areas, especially before rainfalls.

He also reminded relevant parties of compensation for the victims and called on them to make intensive communications among them in dealing with the disaster.

On parties responsible for financing the efforts to deal with the mudflow, Agung said PT Lapindo Brantas was responsible for it and no financial allocation from the state budget.

The hot mud has been flowing from an exploration area of an oil and gas company PT Lapindo Brantas since three months ago after the company failed in its exploration business in Sidoarjo district, East Java province. (dar)