Acting Governor Of Central Java Asks All River Embankments To Be Evaluated

Acting Governor of Central Java Nana Sudjana asked all river embankments in the area to be evaluated along with floods in a number of areas, such as Demak and Jepara.

"The existing embankments will be evaluated and will gradually make improvements," Nana said on the sidelines of reviewing floods in Jepara and Demak Regencies, Central Java, as reported by ANTARA, Monday, March 18.

Based on data from flood events in the last ten days in Central Java, one of the reasons is the breakdown of river embankments or dams, such as floods in Pekalongan, Grobogan, Demak, and Jepara Regencies.

Therefore, he said, all river embankments in Central Java need to be evaluated, as a measure to anticipate the broken embankment due to not being strong enough to withstand high water discharge.

According to him, the evaluation needs to be carried out considering based on BMKG information that the weather in Central Java over the next week still has the potential for extreme rain.

As a precautionary measure, he said, currently the use of weather modification technology (TMC) has been carried out to control the rain until the flood site has completely receded or the embankment has been closed.

Nana reviewed the location of the flood with her entourage, including the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Lt. Gen. Suharyanto and the Head of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), Dwikorita Karnawati.

In Demak, Nana and her entourage checked the condition of the broken Wulan River embankment, resulting in the second flood in the same location after the flood in early February.

Not only Demak and Jepara regencies, this time the flood also penetrated Kudus Regency.

Both in Demak, Jepara, and Kudus, he said, treatment had been carried out by evacuating refugees in dozens of refugee camps spread across various regions.

"There are dozens of evacuation sites in Demak and Kudus," said the former Metro Jaya Police Chief.

Every time a disaster occurs, Nana said, the first step that is always taken is to evacuate residents affected by the flood.

Currently, the Central Java Provincial Government together with BNPB, BPBD, TNI, Polri and other agencies have also prepared various services for refugees, starting from public kitchens, health posts, logistics, and all basic needs of the community.

"There are also many people who have returned home because it has receded. Embankments will also be closed within two days," he concluded.

Meanwhile, the Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said that the floods in Jepara and Demak were both caused by the embankment of the Wulan river basin (DAS) that crossed the area broken.

According to him, the flood in Demak was a serious concern, because it paralyzed the north coast (Pantura) of Central Java.

What is clear, he said, is that BNPB will continue to coordinate with the Ministry of PUPR to repair river embankments. "Don't let there be more embankments that are not strong, so they are unable to withstand the high river water discharge," he said.