Heavy Rain Triggers Landslides In Bogor, Elderly Killed By River Currents

The Bogor Regency BPBD team evacuated flood victims (doc BPBD Bogor Regency)

BOGOR Deep sorrow enveloped residents of Rawa Sedek Village, Megamendung Village and District, Bogor Regency. The landslide disaster that occurred on Monday afternoon, August 4, claimed lives. An elderly resident Dani (75) died after being dragged by flash floods with his 4-year-old son, Wanto.

This heartbreaking incident occurred when heavy rains flushed the Megamendung area at around 15.50 WIB. Rain accompanied by strong winds triggered a landslide that eroded the retaining embankment (TPT) around residents' houses.

According to a report from the Bogor Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Dani and his son were in the house when it was raining. Feeling insecure, the two decided to self-evacuate. But unfortunately, when they got out of the house, both of them slipped due to an avalanche of land from a collapsed neighbor's TPT.

Victims Dani and Wanto were resting in their private homes. When it rained, they came out to save themselves. However, when they left the house, the victim slipped due to an avalanche from the landslide at the house of a neighbor above, "Emergency Staff and Logistics BPBD Bogor Regency Jalaludin, Tuesday 5 August.

As a result of the landslide, Dani and Wanto fell into the tributary of the Cirangrang River and were carried away by a current of approximately 3 kilometers. The joint SAR team that was dispatched to the location managed to find Dani's body in a lifeless condition, while Wanto was found safe despite being injured.

This tragedy re-examines the problems of spatial planning and environmental damage in the Puncak area, Bogor, which has often been a disaster subscription when the rainy season arrives. During a post-disaster field visit, the Minister of Environment Hanif Faisol Nurofiq expressed his concern over this condition.

According to Hanif, the location of the scene was not in accordance with the Basic Spatial Planning (RDTR) and was in a disaster-prone zone. He asked West Java Governor Dedi Mulyadi and Bogor Regent Rudy Susmanto to immediately improve spatial planning and draw up Strategic Environment Studies (KLHS) specifically for the Puncak and surrounding areas.

> The landslide location in Rawa Sedek Village is not only vulnerable, but also not in accordance with RDTR. It is necessary to immediately improve spatial planning and prepare a strategic environmental study," said Hanif while reviewing the disaster site.

As a first step in mitigation, the Ministry of Environment plans to distribute hard tree seeds and fruit to be planted in critical lands and landslide-prone points. Planting will involve Forkopimcam, village heads, village heads, and surrounding communities to be more involved in maintaining the local ecosystem.

Hanif also appealed to the public to be more concerned about the conditions of the surrounding environment, including by cleaning waterways regularly and not building settlements on steep slopes that pose a high risk of landslides.

"We all have to learn from this incident. People need to be given a comprehensive understanding of disaster mitigation, starting from planting trees to managing environmental drainage," he said.

The Bogor Regency BPBD has evacuated victims and conducted an assessment at the scene. Emergency assistance is distributed, including logistics for the families of the victims. The medical team has also handled the survivors' children and is now in stable condition.

The local government together with related agencies also conducted an assessment of the condition of the TPT and the houses of residents around the landslide location. It is possible to relocate residents living in the red zone prone to disasters.