More flooding, landslides may hit North Sulawesi<\/p>\n
Yongker Rumthe, The Jakarta Post, Manado<\/p>\n
The North Sulawesi Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has warned
\nthe people of Manado and North Sulawesi province of possible
\nflooding and landslides due to the torrential rain that has been
\nfalling in the area recently.<\/p>\n
The head of the agency, Suharjono, told The Jakarta Post in
\nManado that fishermen should also be extra careful as large waves
\nof between two-and-a-half meters and four meters were predicted.<\/p>\n
\"Over the last ten years, precipitation has been reaching
\nbetween 300 millimeters and 400 millimeters annually,\" he said.
\nNormal rainfall in the province was between 120 millimeters and
\n130 millimeters.<\/p>\n
\"This month alone, precipitation amounted to 200 millimeters,\"
\nSuharjono said.<\/p>\n
The constant heavy rain in the provincial capital of Manado
\nhas left 26 areas innundated with the floodwaters reaching an
\naverage of 50 centimeters in depth.<\/p>\n
The areas inundated include Karombasan Market, part of Pakowa,
\npart of Jl. Sam Ratulangi, the Pertamina and Malalayang housing
\ncomplexes, and the PAAL Dua area.<\/p>\n
Motorists face difficulty driving in the Perkamil area as the
\nfloodwaters have reached almost 50 centimeters in depth.<\/p>\n
Some PAAL Dua residents have had to move in with relatives as
\nwater from the Tondano river has flooded the area.<\/p>\n
In Minahasa, some 40 kilometers away, surface transportation
\nhas been affected as parts of the Trans-Sulawesi Highway remained
\nclosed due to landslides.<\/p>\n
\"The highway in the villages of Munte and Amurang is totally
\nblocked,\" said Yus, a public transportation driver.<\/p>\n
According to Suharjono, the rain will keep falling over the
\nnext few days. Cloud formations that were likely to produce rain
\nwere prevalent over Manado and many parts of North Sulawesi
\nprovince.<\/p>\n
\"The clouds will persist for several days, while the wind will
\nblow at between 30 kilometers and 40 kilometers per hour. Heavy
\ndownpours are expected soon,\" he said. \"Those living along
\nriverbanks must be extra careful as landslides are very possible
\nin heavy rain.\"<\/p>\n
Last November, serious flooding hit Manado after precipitation
\nreached 120 millimeters in one hour. \"In the last few days,
\nrainfall has reached 95 millimeters in one hour.\"<\/p>\n
Eleven were killed by the November floods, which also
\ndestroyed hundreds of houses. The Ranoyapo bridge in Minahasa
\ncollapsed due to the floods.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, records kept by Manado's Environmental Control
\nAgency show that the city has 67 disaster-prone areas, 41 of
\nwhich are vulnerable to flooding and 26 of which are prone to
\nlandslides.<\/p>\n
Thirty of the 41 spots vulnerable to flooding are classified
\nas being frontline zones, or most vulnerable areas.<\/p>\n
According to the Agency, the landslide-prone areas cover a
\ntotal of 692.26 hectares.<\/p>\n
In the regency of Sangihe Talaud and the island of Siau in
\nNorth Sulawesi, landslides and floods that hit several villages
\nbetween last Wednesday and Saturday killed four people and
\ndestroyed 62 houses.<\/p>\n
All the victims were residents of Siau island.<\/p>\n
The Disaster Monitoring Team's coordinator in Siau, Iverdixon
\nTinungki, said on Monday that the regency had donated five tons
\nof rice and cash assistance to 105 people whose houses had been
\ndestroyed by the mudflows. They were now sheltering in school
\nbuildings and the homes of other residents.<\/p>\n
The regency had also sent heavy equipment to repair damaged
\ninfrastructure, he said. \"But we are afraid that fresh landslides
\nand mudflows could happen at any time.\"<\/p>",
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