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)