47 Houses in Tasikmalaya Threatened to Be Damaged by the Movement of the Earth Phenomenon

The building of a resident's house was damaged due to a landslide in Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java. ANTARA/HO-BNPB

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) recorded that as of Thursday, February 19, there were 47 houses of residents in Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, threatened to be damaged due to the phenomenon of land movement in the area.

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that the land movement was reported to have occurred in Sirnajaya Village, Karangjaya District, Tasikmalaya which caused the shifting of the soil structure and impacted the settlement of residents.

The incident first occurred on Monday, February 16 at around 03.00 WIB after the area was hit by heavy rain.

The BNPB operations control center (Pusdalops) noted that there were five houses that were damaged with two units of houses severely damaged and three other units were slightly damaged.

The process of evacuation and data collection of the number of affected residents is still ongoing, at least until Wednesday, February 18.

Based on the results of field inspections received by BNPB, at least 47 units of residents' houses were found to be in a state of danger if land movement occurred again.

Responding to the vulnerability, Abdul ensured that the rapid reaction team of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Tasikmalaya Regency provided attached assistance to ensure the safety and guarantee the basic needs of affected residents.

"47 families who are in the vulnerable zone are asked to increase vigilance against the potential for subsequent land movements, especially when heavy rains occur again," he said in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Thursday.