MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

By Amir Tejo – “Surabaya. East Java’s deputy governor has ordered officials to prepare for possible evacuations in areas hit by a caterpillar outbreak, a report said on Friday.

Saifullah Yusuf also requested authorities to monitor the situation in Probolinggo district, where villages were swamped by thousands of caterpillars, said Edi Purwinarti, the governor’s assistant on people’s welfare.

‘So far, the condition is not that bad yet,’ Edi said on Friday.

‘The possibility of evacuating residents is [an option] if the conditions become worrying or dangerous,’ Edi was quoted by Detiksurabaya.com as saying.

In the past two weeks, the swarm has spread to five subdistricts in Probolinggo, with the insects crawling into homes and fields, causing skin rashes among residents.

The herbivorous insects have also destroyed more than 8,800 mango trees — the district’s main agricultural product.” Read more.