Disasters claim more lives in Java and Bali

Disasters claim more lives in Java and Bali

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

At least 14 people were reported killed in floods and
landslides caused by incessant rain in various parts of West and
East Java, and Bali on Thursday, bringing the total death toll to
22.

Meanwhile, continuing heavy rain has caused the floods to
spread to more areas and inflict even greater material losses.

Imam Supardi, the chief of the East Java provincial task force
for the handling of natural disasters, said that 12 more people
were reported to have been killed in floods that hit Sampang in
Madura, the provincial capital Surabaya, Situbondo, Mojokerto,
Bojonegoro and Sidoarjo, raising the death toll in this province
to 14. Two casualties were reported to the task force on
Wednesday.

The authorities have taken emergency measures, like evacuating
villagers trapped in flooded areas and distributing food to the
victims.

The floods, caused by days of torrential rain, have also
paralyzed the main road linking Surabaya and Banyuwangi, which
connects Java and Bali. Many trees have fallen on to the highway,
blocking traffic for a length of 20 kilometers.

"We hope that we will be able to fully clear the road of trees
and mud by Saturday," said Imam.

He also said the fact that many dikes had burst was worsening
conditions.

As to the thousands of hectares of rice fields that had been
destroyed by the floods, Imam said the provincial administration
would exempt the owners from repaying loan installments and would
provide them later on with rice seeds free of charge.

In Kuningan, West Java, a 50-year-old farmer, Wasni bin Surya,
was killed and two children were seriously injured in a landslide
that hit Jabranti village, Karangkencan district.

The body of Wasni, who was working in his rice field when the
landslide occurred, was recovered some 300 meters away floating
in the Cibadra river.

Suci, 5, and Apid, 7, suffered serious injuries when a
landslide hit their village, Lebakherang, in Lebakherang
district.

Local authorities have instructed villagers living in areas
prone to landslides to be ready to flee the areas or be evacuated
at any time due to fears that the persistent rain could trigger a
disaster.

As of Thursday afternoon, hundreds of houses in Bongas
district were also inundated up to a depth of between 50
centimeters and 70 centimeters. The flooding occurred when a
nearby irrigation ditch burst due to the huge volume of water
that had backed up.

Hundreds of hectares of shrimp and fish ponds in at least six
districts in nearby Indramayu regency have also been affected by
the floods.

AR Hakim, chief of the local fisheries agency, estimated that
the floods would cause a loss of hundreds of millions of rupiah.

There are 13,500 hectares of shrimp and fish ponds in 12
districts along the coast of Indramayu.

Search and rescue workers in Buleleng regency, Bali,
discovered on Thursday the body of 10-year-old I Gede Wirtaya,
one of seven people buried by a landslide that hit Antapura
village in Tajakula district.

Buleleng Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Moh. Safei said that
search and rescue workers were still striving to recover the body
of one more victim, believed to be 12-year-old I gede Sukamara,
also from the same village.

The bodies of the other five victims were found on Wednesday.

Continuing heavy rain has caused floods and landslides in the
Tajakula and Grokgrak districts in the regency.

Governor Dewa Beratha said that he was deeply concerned with
the tragedy and promised to pay a visit to the victims on Friday.

In Brebes regency, Central Java, torrential rain also caused
landslides in five villages in Bantarkawung district.

The disaster destroyed at least 42 houses, two places of
worship, a bridge and an Islamic boarding school, and caused the
authorities to evacuate hundreds of villagers.

There have been no reports so far of casualties in the
disaster.

The people affected by the landslides have complained about a
lack of attention from the authorities. "All we can do right now
is to flee to safer areas," a resident said.

From Bandarlampung, Lampung, Antara news agency reported that
floods caused by heavy downpours and rainstorms had also hit some
locations in West, East and South Lampung, and Tanggamus
regencies.

There were no casualties, but the disaster has destroyed a
number of houses, public facilities and a large area of crops.

The authorities on Thursday warned people living in areas
prone to floods to be watchful for the occurrence of a more
serious disaster because of the continuing rain. The
Meteorological and Geophysics Agency has predicted that heavy
rain would persist in the province over the coming days.