Floods in Demak Recede, 12 Houses Swept Away and Thousands of Residents Affected
Flooding that struck nine villages in four districts in Demak Regency has begun to recede. The impacts include 12 houses being swept away and dozens of others suffering heavy or minor damage. The Demak Regency and Central Java Provincial Governments have promptly taken handling measures.
Media Indonesia’s observations until Monday evening (6/4) showed that hundreds of flood victim families have gradually returned to their respective homes. They immediately began cleaning up rubbish and mud that accumulated following the flooding due to the breach of the Tuntang River embankment.
The flooding, which occurred since Friday (3/4), initially reached a height of 1.5 metres and now leaves about 0.5 metres in several villages. Residents’ settlements appear devastated; some houses are destroyed, while others are left with only foundations and empty land.
“Based on preliminary data, there are 12 residents’ houses that were swept away by the flood, and dozens of houses suffered heavy and minor damage,” said Demak Regent Eisti’anah while inspecting the flood site on Monday (6/4).
According to Eisti’anah, in facing the flood, various handling efforts were carried out by the Demak Regency Government, Central Java Provincial Government, and the Pemali Juana River Basin Authority, including the distribution of aid to affected residents.
“Aid to flood victims is not only in the form of logistics while at evacuation sites, but now efforts are being made to provide aid in the form of environmental restoration and to residents who lost property, especially houses swept away by the flood. Yesterday, aid from the Governor was also provided,” she added.
Head of the Demak BPBD, Agus Sukiyono, explained that the flooding in Demak Regency was caused by the breach of the Tuntang River embankment, specifically in Trimulyo Village there are three locations with lengths of 10–30 metres, and in Sidoharjo Village there are three locations spanning about 15 metres.
As a result of the flood, 2,116 houses and 7,606 people were affected, while 2,839 people from nine villages in four districts evacuated. “After the flood gradually recedes, residents are starting to return to their respective homes,” Agus stated.
In addition to houses, the flood also inundated 29 places of worship, 18 schools, and 671 hectares of rice paddy fields. Joint teams have been deployed to patch the embankment and assist in cleaning the affected locations.