Strong Wind Hits Garut, Residents Die When Hit by a Tree While Helping Others

GARUT - A hydrometeorological disaster in the form of strong winds caused damage to dozens of residents' houses and killed a resident when a fallen tree hit him in Talegong District, Garut Regency, West Java.

Acting Head of Talegong Sub-district Wiati Kartini said that the strong wind that hit the southern area of Garut on Sunday, January 25, caused casualties and damage to a number of residents' buildings.

"Strong winds and falling trees caused casualties and several buildings were damaged," Wiati said when contacted via cellphone in Garut, Sunday, January 25.

Based on the results of the assessment in the field, the strong winds that occurred on Saturday caused at least 29 residents' houses to be damaged.

The damage was generally caused by trees falling on buildings, as well as the roof of the house being damaged by the wind.

Meanwhile, one resident was reported dead after being hit by a fallen acacia tree in Kampung Baru, Mekarmukti Village. The accident occurred while the victim was helping other residents affected by strong winds.

"The victim was taken to the Talegong Health Center and treated, but could not be saved," said Wiati.

He detailed that the damage to residents' houses was spread across a number of villages, namely two points in Mekarmukti Village, two points in Sukamaju Village, 10 points in Sukamulya Village, five points in Mekarmulya Village, four points in Selaawi Village, and six points in Sukalaksana Village.

For residents' houses with light damage, repairs have been carried out independently. The local government together with the Garut Regency Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has also visited the funeral home of the deceased and distributed assistance.

"Minor damage has begun to be repaired. We have coordinated with the parties concerned according to the letter. Currently we are at the funeral home with BPBD Garut," said Wiati.

In addition to Talegong, the incident of a fallen tree was also reported in a number of other areas in Garut Regency. The fallen tree temporarily closed the road access to Jawiyah Boarding School on Samarang Highway, Kalikingemped Village, Samarang Village and District. A similar incident also occurred in Banjarwangi and Pasirwangi Districts.

Not only that, landslides were reported to have closed irrigation canals in Jembatan Dua Village, Maripari Village, Sukawening District. The landslide has now been handled so that it does not interfere with the flow of water to the residents' farmland.