Sidoarjo BPBD Confirms Lapindo Embankment Safe, Provided No Heavy Rain

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Sidoarjo Regency has confirmed that the Lapindo mud retaining embankment, particularly at the Siring point in Porong, is currently in a safe condition. Nevertheless, the disaster management authority remains vigilant about the potential danger of overtopping, or the overflow of water from the containment pond, should extreme weather with heavy rain occur at any time.

This was conveyed by the Chief Executive of Sidoarjo BPBD, Sabino Mariano, on Friday (12/6). A day earlier, the Sidoarjo BPBD team also conducted a direct inspection of the Siring embankment location on Thursday afternoon (11/6).

“At present, we see that the condition is indeed still safe, the embankment is still safe. However, when extreme weather or heavy rain occurs, it will become a potential hazard because the containment pond is feared to experience overtopping,” said Sabino.

To anticipate the worst-case scenario, Sidoarjo BPBD has communicated intensively with the Sidoarjo Mud Control Centre (PPLS). Sabino has requested that PPLS immediately deepen disaster mitigation efforts and accelerate the physical reinforcement of embankment points deemed to be in a critical category.

This preventive measure is considered very crucial to guarantee a sense of safety for communities living around the affected area. Sabino reminded that a breach of the embankment in the Siring or Gempolsari areas would not only threaten residential settlements but also potentially paralyse the transport artery on the national highway route.

“If, for example, the embankment at Siring or Gempolsari were to overflow and breach, it would become a serious threat to the national highway as well as settlements in the affected areas, such as Kalitengah, Gempolsari, and their surroundings,” said Sabino.

Based on field monitoring, PPLS is currently observed to be continuously carrying out embankment strengthening activities. Sabino also confirmed that the scheme to control the mud volume by channelling it into the Porong River is still running actively and consistently.

The ongoing dry season factor is acknowledged to be quite helpful in maintaining the stability of the water volume inside the containment pond within safe limits. Even so, BPBD urges the public not to be complacent and to entrust long-term mitigation to PPLS, which is considered to have decades of experience in controlling mud overflow.

“We are confident that PPLS has decades of experience in carrying out its duties and authority in the context of controlling water and mud in this containment pond area,” said Sabino.