BNPB Suggests Determination Of Emergency Response Status For Batu City Flash Flood Disaster

PHOTO VIA BETWEEN

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) advised the Batu City Government, East Java to establish a disaster emergency response status following a flash flood.

"There is a need for a disaster emergency status, it is recommended in the next two weeks," said BNPB Main Secretary Lilik Kurniawan as quoted in a BNPB press statement quoted by Antara, Friday, November 5.

In addition, BNPB encourages the Batu City Government to form supporting clusters to accelerate the handling of the impact of banjir bandang.

"Established main posts and formed clusters, including search clusters, clusters dealing with refugees, logistics, public kitchens, psychosocial, infrastructure clusters, health clusters, and recovery clusters to take care of the data collection of damaged houses," said Lilik.

In a coordination meeting regarding flood management in Batu City, Lilik also appealed to the city government to increase preparedness to deal with possible aftershocks considering the rainy season will last for the next few months.

"The rain has not stopped, it is possible that until December, even January it will still rain. There must be an early warning system built, at least there are officers who monitor the situation above (upstream) to be informed to the post," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Batu Agung Sedayu explained that seven heavy equipment, seven dump trucks, and two tanker trucks had been deployed to accelerate the handling of the impact of flash floods in Batu City.

According to data from the BPBD of Batu City, as of Friday (5/11) at 11.00 WIB, the flash flood had killed six people and forced 142 residents to evacuate.

"We have recorded 17 houses damaged, 28 motorbikes damaged, four cars damaged, eight livestock missing," said Agung.