Hundreds of hectares of agricultural land in Situbondo damaged by flash flooding

The Agricultural and Food Security Service (Dispertangan) of Situbondo District, East Java, has recorded approximately 300 hectares of agricultural land damaged by flash flooding that occurred in several local areas on Saturday, 7 March.

Situbondo Regent Yusuf Rio Wahyu Prayogo stated that hundreds of hectares of agricultural land belonging to farmers in several districts had been destroyed by the flash flooding. “The second flash flood on Saturday, 7 March was larger than the previous flood on 21 January, and its impact has been quite significant. Preliminary data shows an area of around 300 hectares,” he said.

According to Regent Rio, in Bloro Village, Besuki District, agricultural land damaged during the 21 January flash flood was only 5.5 hectares, but the second flood has affected a much larger area, with data collection currently being conducted by field agricultural extension workers (PPL).

“Currently, many farmers have not replanted because they fear there will be more rain and further flooding,” he said.

The Regent requested that the local Agricultural and Food Security Service coordinate with the local Public Works and Housing Service to handle post-flood recovery. “We are requesting that river normalisation and the removal of waste in the river be carried out immediately so that the river functions properly,” Regent Rio said.

Hundreds of hectares of farmers’ agricultural land, predominantly rice paddies, have been destroyed by the flooding, with road and bridge infrastructure as well as other public facilities also damaged.