Flooding in Situbondo: 300 Hectares of Rice Fields Damaged, One Resident Missing
Approximately 300 hectares of rice fields in Situbondo Regency, East Java, were damaged by flooding that struck the region from Saturday 7 March to Sunday 8 March.
Situbondo Regent Yusuf Rio Wahyu Prayogo stated that the damage from this flooding far exceeded that caused by flooding on 21 January.
According to preliminary data from the Department of Agriculture and Food Security (Dispertangan), hundreds of hectares of rice paddies are now experiencing significant damage.
“The second flash flood on Saturday 7 March last was larger than the previous flood on 21 January and its impact is quite significant. Preliminary data shows the affected area is approximately 300 hectares,” Rio said on Tuesday 10 March.
Rio noted that the escalation in damage was particularly evident in Bloro Village, Besuki District. Whereas the January flood affected only 5.5 hectares of land, the subsequent flooding last week caused the affected area to expand several times over.
Rio explained that this situation represents a severe blow to farmers. Many of them had only just resumed planting after their fields were damaged by the January flood.
“Currently, many farmers have not replanted because they are afraid of more rain and another flood,” he said.
In response to the recurring flooding, the Situbondo District Government instructed the Department of Agriculture and Food Security to immediately coordinate with cross-agency bodies to implement remedial measures, including normalisation of the obstructed river flow.
The overflow flooding struck the western region of Situbondo Regency from Saturday 7 March to Sunday 8 March in the early morning hours. During this event, two residents were reported missing, swept away by the current.
The Head of Emergency and Logistics for the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD Jatim), Satriyo Nurseno, stated that the flooding was triggered by high-intensity rainfall that poured over Situbondo starting Saturday afternoon. This caused water levels to overflow into thousands of residential areas across six districts.
“On Saturday, 7 March at 15.00 WIB, heavy rainfall occurred that caused several areas in the western part of Situbondo Regency to experience flooding due to water overflow at 18.00 WIB,” Satriyo said in a written statement on Monday 9 March.
Based on BPBD Jatim data, at least two people were reported missing, swept away by the flood in Jatibanteng District. These were Tohari (40), a resident of Patemon Village, and Jaelani, a resident of Sumberanyar Village.
One of them, Tohari, was found dead in Lubawang River, Bloro Village, Besuki District, on Tuesday 10 March. The search continues for the other missing victim.