Extreme Weather Still Occurs, Maluku Defines Four Disaster Emergency Areas

JAKARTA - The Maluku Provincial Government has declared an emergency status for natural disasters in four of the 11 regencies/cities in the region, especially floods and landslides due to the ongoing extreme weather.

The Head of Maluku BPBD Executing Agency (Kalak), Hendri Far-Far, confirmed that the four areas designated as disaster emergency were Ambon City, Central Maluku, Buru Island and Eastern Seram (SBT).

"The determination of disaster emergency status in four districts/cities is based on the Decree of the Governor of Maluku Murad Ismail and will take effect on July 13, 2021," he said in Ambon, as reported by Antara, Thursday, July 15.

The decision followed up on the respective BPBD reports and disaster emergency decisions issued by Ambon Mayor Richard Louhenapessy, Central Maluku Regent Abua Tuasikal, Buru Regent Ramli Umasugi and SBT Regent Mukti Keliobas.

The governor also followed up the determination of the disaster emergency status in the four regions by establishing a command post centered on the 6th floor of the Maluku Governor's office, involving relevant technical agencies including the leadership of the TNI and Polri.

This command post will be on duty for 14 full days to coordinate all disaster management measures and efforts in the four areas.

"The main post's job is to coordinate and mobilize all resources, including personnel, equipment and budget to deal with disasters that occur," he said.

The Governor of Maluku as the person in charge of the Command Post will also report various damages caused by landslides and floods that occurred in three regencies and Ambon City to BNPB, Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Finance and Minister of National Development Planning/Head of National Development Planning Agency.

"After all the damage caused by floods and landslides in the four regions is complete, the Governor will submit a request for handling disaster damage for approval from the Central Government," he said.

So far, he said, the damage caused by floods and landslides has only been recorded from Ambon City and Leihitu and Salahutu sub-districts, Central Maluku Regency, while other areas are temporarily recorded by the local BPBD.

"We urge people, especially those living on riverbanks and cliff edges, to be aware of the potential for landslides and floods that could occur at any time, because based on the BMKG report, extreme weather in Maluku is expected to last until August 2021," he said.