Landslides In South Sumatra OKU 2 Meters From Settlements, BPBD Installs Warning Signs

Head of BPBD OKU Januar Efendi inspected the landslide location in Muara Kemalajaya Village, Muara Jaya District, Thursday. ANTARA/Edo Purmana

SOUTH SUMATRA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) installed early warning signs for landslides at the landslide location near the settlements of Muara Kemalajaya Village, Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU), South Sumatra (Sumsel).

Manager of the OKU BPBD Pusdalops, Gunalfi, said that the installation of hair was to prevent casualties in the event of a wider landslide.

"There are four housing units in Hamlet II, Kemalajaya Village almost collapsed due to landslides," he said in Baturaja, Thursday, February 27, which was confiscated by Antara.

Gunalfi added that high rainfall on Tuesday, February 25 at around 03.00 WIB had caused landslides which were only about two meters from residential areas.

To anticipate danger, his party installed early warning signs on the ground collapsed to educate the public to temporarily stay away from the location.

"Meanwhile, people are asked not to carry out activities around the landslide location because it is very dangerous," he said.

Four heads of families whose houses are close to the landslide location are also advised to temporarily evacuate to a safe place to anticipate casualties.

This was done because it was feared that if it rained again for a long time, the landslide would get worse and spread to the residents' houses.

"Currently there are some residents who have vacated their houses for fear of further landslides," he explained.

The OKU Regency Government has extended the emergency alert status of floods and landslides until March 2025 as an effort to overcome natural disasters as early as possible.

In determining this status, his party increases the capacity of disaster management personnel so that floods and landslides can be overcome as early as possible in order to anticipate casualties.

A total of 940 personnel who are members of the disaster management task force are alerted to follow up on extreme weather that has the potential to cause the impact of floods and landslides.

In addition to personnel, he said, his party also prepared disaster management equipment, including six rubber boats, two fiber boats, and 10 rescue cars.

"Then, as many as 125 trail motorbikes, 20 floating suction machines, six evacuation tents and 60 family tents," he said.