Government warns of more floods and landslides

Government warns of more floods and landslides

JAKARTA (JP): The government warned residents, especially
those living in mountainous areas and near rivers, to remain
alert as more landslides and floods can be expected in the next
three months because of heavy rain.

"The government offers its condolences to families of all
victims killed and injured in recent landslides and floods in
Aceh, North and West Sumatra," Minister of Settlement and
Regional Infrastructure Erna Witoelar said here on Monday.

"People living in areas prone to natural disaster should stay
alert of similar incidents due to predictions of heavy downpours
in the next three months," she added.

She warned that many critical areas in the main islands of
Java, Sumatra, Kalimantan and Sulawesi were prone to these
natural disasters due to uncontrolled forest cutting.

"Sides should not blame each other for the incidents, it's
better for us to take preventive actions to avoid such disasters
in the future, or to evacuate people living in areas prone to
landslides and floods," she said.

She said the government had issued several warnings before the
disasters occurred but received little serious attention.

The minister called on subdistrict administrations to take
preventive action and disseminate information on the potential
for disasters in their areas.

"Subdistrict administrations should also strengthen
coordination with local security authorities to call on forest
concessionaire holders and forest squatters to stop cutting
forests and to help preserve water catchment areas," she said.

She called on subdistrict administrations and security
authorities to evacuate people living in areas prone to landslide
and flash floods.

Asked about the floods and landslides in Sumatra that occurred
over the weekend, Erna said the central government was in close
coordination with provincial administrations to take necessary
action to tackle the disasters.

"Besides dispatching food relief, the government along with
the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has coordinated
with provincial and subdistrict administrations to search for the
dead and provide medical and other humanitarian assistance for
injured victims and refugees," she said.

She added that the government would also help repair
infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, damaged in the
disasters.

"This is important to break the isolation," she said,
explaining that landslides and floods in Banda Aceh and Padang,
West Sumatra, have isolated the two provincial capitals.

Meanwhile, a number of legislators called on the House and the
government to provide serious attention to handle the natural
disasters plaguing Aceh, North and West Sumatra.

Aisyah Amini, a member of the United Development Party (PPP)
faction, said in a House of Representatives plenary session which
Erna also attended, that the government and the House would be
under fire if no emergency assistance was dispatched.

Rusdi Zein, a member of the Golkar Party, concurred and warned
that emergency relief was needed, especially on the eve of the
Christmas and Idul Fitri holidays.

Southern Java

Meanwhile, Dwikorita Karnawati, a geologist from the
Yogyakarta-based Gadjahmada University, warned railway companies
and bus operators against possible landslides along the southern
part of Java during the rainy season.

"The Sawunggaling train crash last Friday near the town of
Purwokerto, in Central Java, was an early warning for us to be
cautious of more landslides during the rainy season," he said in
Yogyakarta on Monday.

Dwikorita pointed out that the southern part of Java has many
roads and railways built on land that is susceptible to
landslides.

According to him, besides improved monitoring, the local
administration should build a better drainage system to avoid
floods and landslides during the rainy season. (rms)