BNPB: 111 Jember residents evacuated from flooding

Jakarta (ANTARA) — The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that 111 residents in Jember Regency, East Java were evacuated from flooding triggered by heavy rainfall lasting more than six hours.

Abdul Muhari, Head of the BNPB’s Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, stated on Tuesday in Jakarta that rain lasting more than six hours on Monday (2 March) beginning at 1.30 PM caused four rivers to overflow, allowing brown water mixed with mud to reach residential areas.

The four rivers were the Dinoyo, Kaliputih, Badean, and Kalijompo rivers.

Based on data received by the BNPB, four villages and two sub-districts across three sub-districts—Panti, Rambipuji, and Kaliwates—were inundated with water levels approximately 40–70 centimetres high.

A total of 132 households (435 people) were affected, with at least 111 people seeking shelter at three evacuation centres under the supervision of combined rescue teams in Jember.

Abdul noted that combined rescue teams coordinated by the Jember Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) continued to conduct surveys and provide assistance to affected residents, although flooding was reported to be receding today, which would allow evacuees to return to their homes.

Disaster response efforts also involved volunteers from Disaster-Resilient Villages in distributing humanitarian aid including food, mattresses, and blankets to evacuees and residents who chose to remain in their homes.