Areas prone to landslide in Kulonprogo

YOGYAKARTA: A legislator has warned residents of Kulonprogo regency in Yogyakarta to stay vigilant against landslides in the regency, which has four areas vulnerable to such disasters: Kalibawang, Samigaluh, Kokap and Girimulyo districts,

"Alertness is very important, especially in the rainy season. The structure of the soil in the areas is very unstable," Bambang Sunaryo, member of Commission C at the local legislature, said on Wednesday.

"If villagers come across a crack in the ground they should fill the crack with sand or soil to prevent rainwater from entering the crack and resulting in a landslide," he said.

"The areas must be well vegetated to prevent erosion."

Last year, floods and landslide hit Samigaluh and Kalibawang districts, killing at least seven people and destroying more than 15 houses.

Hundreds of hectares of rice field were also destroyed in the disaster. --Antara