Floods Hit Semarang, Thousands of Residents Affected
Flooding in Semarang, Central Java, has impacted 556 families, or more than 1,858 people, in the Tugu, Ngaliyan, and West Semarang sub-districts on Friday (May 15) evening.
The Head of the Semarang City Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Endro P Martantono, said that the floods affected residential areas in the three sub-districts.
He explained that the flooding occurred due to high rainfall, which caused rivers to overflow and inundate surrounding areas.
In Tugu sub-district, at least 313 families or 1,252 people in Mangkang Kulon village were affected by the floods. One person, named Maryam (70), was swept away and is still being searched for.
In Ngaliyan sub-district, the affected villages include Purwoyoso, with 146 families or more than 273 people, and Bambankerep, with 16 families or 49 people.
Meanwhile, in West Semarang sub-district, four villages were affected by the floods, including Kalibanteng Kidul, with 22 families or 60 people; Kembangarum, with 59 families or 224 people; and one person named Wahyu Adi Kristanto suffered a broken bone.
In Kalibanteng Kulon village, the floods inundated 25 houses on Jalan Jembawa RT 06/RW 01, and in Krapyak village, the flooding affected RT 01, RT 02, RW 03, and RW 09.
The floodwaters in several of these areas have receded, and efforts are underway to clear away mud and debris. Emergency supplies are also being distributed.
Meanwhile, Semarang Mayor Agustina Wilujeng Pramestuti said that social assistance in the form of basic necessities and logistics has been provided to those affected by the floods.
“This assistance is intended to ensure that the basic needs of residents are met during the emergency response period,” she said, as quoted by Antara on Saturday (May 16).
Since the flooding occurred, relevant local government organizations (OPDs) and joint personnel have been deployed to provide assistance in several affected areas.
She said that efforts to clear away mud, normalize drainage systems, pump out floodwaters, and collect data on those affected are being carried out intensively to ensure that conditions return to normal as soon as possible and community activities can resume.
The assistance provided includes 60 packages of ready-to-eat meals, 140 packages of ready-to-eat side dishes, 25 mattresses, 10 rolls of tents, 10 family kits, and 8 children’s supply packages.