BPBD Asks Lebak Residents To Beware Of Heavy Rain Accompanied By Strong Winds

LEBAK - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Lebak Regency, Banten Province asked the people of the area to be aware of heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning strikes because it can cause landslides and floods.

"We remind residents who live in locations prone to natural disasters to increase their awareness of bad weather," said Head of BPBD Lebak Regency, Febby Rizky Pratama, quoted by Antara, Sunday, January 2, 2022.

He said heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning are now occurring in the Lebak Regency area from 12.20 WIB to 14.30 WIB, so that most people are at home.

This is because strong winds and lightning strikes are quite dangerous if they are in rice fields and fields.

In addition, drivers of two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles often stop traveling and choose to rest while waiting for the weather to return to normal for fear of falling trees.

Bad weather conditions also have the potential for landslides and floods, especially rainfall accompanied by strong winds and lightning and has the chance to last until the evening.

"We have conveyed the warning for bad weather vigilance, including coastal tourism, it is forbidden to swim around the coast to avoid marine accidents," he said.

According to him, the intensity of rainfall in early 2022 is quite high, so it is feared that there is a potential for natural disasters.

The experience of natural disasters in early 2020 in six sub-districts in Lebak Regency reported that nine residents died as a result of being affected by landslides and flash floods.

The natural disaster caused damage to road infrastructure, bridges, school buildings, sub-district government buildings and health buildings, Islamic boarding school buildings, taklim assembly buildings and thousands of residents' houses were lightly, moderately and heavily damaged by the water currents.

In addition, thousands of residents in six sub-districts were forced to live in refugee camps, even now they are occupying temporary shelters (huntara).

"We hope that this year the victims of natural disasters will be able to occupy permanent residences (huntaps) built by the government," said Febby.

He said the areas prone to natural disasters in Lebak Regency are in mountainous and hilly areas as well as river flows.

There are thousands of heads of families living in areas prone to natural disasters and they have lived in the area for generations.

Among them, they live in the sub-districts of Leuwidamar, Cirinten, Gunungkencana, Banjarsari and Cigemblong.

In addition, there are also the sub-districts of Lebak Gedong, Cipanas, Sajira, Cimarga, Sobang, Muncang, Cibeber, Cilograng, Cikulur, Rangkasbitung, Cileles, and Wanasalam.

"We hope that the increased vigilance can reduce the risk of disaster in the face of bad weather," said Febby Rizky Pratama.