President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has said people’s safety in landslide-prone locations should be prioritized. Early warning systems should be improved in the future.
By
AGUIDO ADRI/LAKSANA AGUNG SAPUTRA /NOBERTUS ARYA DWIANGGA MARTIAR/ICHWAN SUSANTO
·4 minutes read
BOGOR, KOMPAS – President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo urged local district heads to prepare people in landslide-prone locations in Bogor regency, West Java, and Lebak regency, Banten, for potential disasters. Preparedness of all stakeholders is crucial as extreme weather during the rainy season might still occur in the next month.
“In the past month, we have told all governors, regents and mayors to provide adequate early warning in landslide-prone locations,” the President told reporters during his visit to a flood-affected location in Lebak on Tuesday (7/1/2020).
Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) forecast shows that most regions in Indonesia will experience the peak of the rainy season in January and February. Meanwhile, many residential areas are found in flood- and landslide-prone areas. The President said Bogor regency alone had hundreds of landslide-prone locations.
I believe that the most important thing is alertness.
According to the President, due to the spread of disaster-prone locations, regional administrations must use all available means to warn locals ahead of heavy rain. “I believe that the most important thing is alertness,” Jokowi said.
He continued that locals whose homes were affected by landslides would be relocated to safer areas around 2 kilometers from the location of their original homes. Relocation is managed by regional heads, while the construction of new homes will be done by the Public Works and Housing Ministry.
Illegal mines
In Lebak, the President received reports that the disaster was caused by deforestation to make way for illegal gold mining. “I have told the governor and regent to stop this. You cannot have one or two or three individuals profiting in ways that puts thousands at harm with this flash flood,” he said.
In Lebak, as the President said, some 30 village access bridges and 19 schools were damaged. The President has instructed the Public Works and Housing Ministry to rebuild all of them within three to four months.
In Jakarta, the Environment and Forestry Ministry’s watershed area control planning and evaluation director, Saparis Soedarjanto, said the ministry had discovered illegal gold mines in upstream and water catchment areas. These activities have led to declining vegetation cover and increased sediment erosion, which causes decreased flow.
“Most water catchment areas in disaster locations have high and extreme water runoff [87.28 percent] and are either prone or highly prone to landslides [81.45 percent]. The land cover is not in line with its function as forest area, as most of it is currently for dryland mixed-crop farming,” Saparis said.
Regarding the presence of illegal gold mines, he said that he hoped it would be eradicated and former mines be reclaimed.
Aid distribution
In Bogor, rain poured over Sukajaya, Nanggung, Cigudeg and Jasingan districts from dawn on Tuesday, making it difficult for local officials to access flood- and landslide-affected villages.
Heavy equipment is required to remove wood logs obstructing roads. Thus far, disaster mitigation personnel are relying on chainsaws, axes, shovels and ropes to cut and remove the logs. Not all villages can be accessed by the heavy equipment due to difficult geography.
Jasinga district head Asep Aer Sukmaji said the district office had mapped out the worst-hit locations to facilitate aid distribution. “We are not receiving clothes anymore as we’ve already had too many. Currently, we need medicines, food, candles and clean water,” he said.
Social Affairs Minister Juliari Batubara said the ministry was prepared to distribute logistics to evacuees. “We hope locals in disaster-hit locations do not return to their homes for now. Just stay at the shelters. We will send enough aid to all shelters,” he said.
Health Minister Terawan Agus Putranto said the ministry had issued a circular to all health agencies to prioritize help for victims of natural disasters. Administrative issues must be set aside.
Identify cause of flood
The Public Works and Housing Ministry has identified the cause of flash floods in Greater Jakarta. On Jan.1, records show that there were 178 flooded spots in the region. Causes of floods include damaged embankments (44 locations), clogged drainage (three locations), overwhelmed drainage (13 locations) and damaged floodgates (11 locations).
Other causes include damaged pumps (two locations) in Kampung Pulo, East Jakarta, and Pondok Gede Permai, Jatiasih, Bekasi; sedimentation (19 locations); waste pileup (17 locations); water runoff from rivers and other waterways (62 locations); landslide (1 location); and puddles on toll road (six locations).
Public Works and Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono said in a written statement on Monday that the field survey should be followed-up immediately with short-term and mid-term measures. Short-term measures must be implemented immediately in 114 flood locations as heavy rainfall is still expected on 11-15 January 2020.