Child Dies Due to Repeated Floods in Demak, Puan Asks Government to Immediately Address

JAKARTA - House of Representatives (DPR) Chairwoman Puan Maharani highlighted the massive flooding in Demak Regency, Central Java, which caused an 8-year-old child to die. He asked the government to immediately address the recurring floods that often occur in the area.

"Floods in Demak have often occurred, and have become a record for us together. Of course it is a concern for the DPR because this flood has caused casualties, and we convey our deep sorrow to the family," Puan told reporters, Monday, April 6.

Puan also reminded the government to ensure the safety of the community, including immediately distributing assistance to flood victims in Demak.

"Both those who are in exile, or residents who choose to stay in their homes, including for residents who need help in cleaning the ruins of their homes that were severely damaged by the flood," he said.

In addition, Puan assessed the importance of related agencies immediately providing health care for flood victims who need it.

"Pick up the ball by checking the conditions in every region and evacuation," said Puan.

Puan assessed that the Demak flood, triggered by the breach of the Tuntang River embankment, showed how there was a lack of disaster mitigation in vulnerable areas. According to him, this condition adds to the economic burden of the community on a wider scale.

Puan added, the public needs to get a more open explanation about whether the breached embankment point is already included in the priority vulnerability map, how the technical evaluation is carried out before the incident. As well as why the area that has repeatedly faced similar pressures is still experiencing damage with almost the same consequences.

"The long-term risk associated with this recurring flood disaster must be immediately overcome," said Puan.

As is known, the heavy flooding that hit Demak was triggered by the collapse of the embankment and the overflowing of the Tuntang River on Friday, April 3 morning, which then submerged settlements, public facilities, and agricultural land.

The breached embankment was recorded at several points, with a length of about 30 meters 10 meters, and 15 meters.

The flood also caused one 8-year-old child, a resident of Trimulyo Village, Guntur District, to die. The victim was said to have been swept away by the flood when the embankment of the Tuntang River broke on Friday, April 3 afternoon.

Based on a quick survey by the Demak Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), flooding submerged eight villages in four sub-districts. Provisional data as of Saturday, April 4 recorded as many as 2,839 residents had to be evacuated due to the disaster.

It is reported that a number of houses in Demak were severely damaged after a major flood due to a breached embankment. Some houses only have roofs, and some of them even have foundations and can no longer be occupied because the buildings are swept away by the flood.

In addition to impacting residents, the flood submerged thousands of houses. A total of 10 educational facilities and 15 places of worship were also affected. As much as 671 hectares of rice fields in Demak Regency were also flooded.