Strong Winds And Floods Damage Irrigation Channels And Residents' Houses In Two Districts In Sukabumi

Combined officers from elements of the TNI, Polri, SAR and volunteers work together to repair houses damaged by strong winds in Mancle Village, RT 08/02, Bojongasih Village, Parakansalak District, Sukabumi Regency, (photo: doc. Antara)

JAKARTA – The rainy season at the end of this year has caused natural disasters in a number of areas. For example, strong winds and floods that occurred on Saturday, November 20, in two sub-districts in Sukabumi Regency, West Java caused damage to public facilities and houses.

The flood disaster occurred in Pasirceuri Village/Dusun, RT01/02, Cibenda Village, Ciemas District, caused by the overflowing of the Ciletuh River whose overflowing water broke the irrigation flow with a length of 10 meters and a height of eight meters to be exact in Block BNA3.

"As a result of the collapse of the irrigation canal, the 14-day-old rice fields with an area of about two hectares do not receive water," said Ciemas District Disaster Management Officer (P2BK), Idrus, in his report Saturday, November 20, quoted by Antara.

He explained that the day before or to be precise on Friday, November 19, heavy rains that fell almost all day also caused flooding that inundated six points in Ciemas District. Starting around the Cidahon and Cikalong Bridges, the provincial road that connects Merkarsari Village with Ciwaru Village.

Even though the water has receded at this time, it is possible that if heavy rains return, several points in the sub-district which is the center of the Ciletuh Palabuhanratu Geopark tourist attraction will be flooded.

According to Idrus, the breach of the irrigation canal has been directly reviewed by officers from the Ciemas District Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimcam). Then his party has reported to the local government so that the broken irrigation canal is immediately repaired.

"If it is not repaired immediately, several hectares of rice fields in Cibenda Village and Sidamulya Village will also be affected because the water supply is reduced, because the irrigation system in this rice field area depends on irrigation," added Idrus.

Meanwhile, strong winds hit Mancle Village, RT 08/02, Bojongasih Village, Parakansalak District, which damaged one resident's house in the kitchen. Although there were no injuries or fatalities in this incident, the loss borne by the owner of the house was around Rp. 5 million.

"Combined officers from various elements have gone to the location to work together to repair the victim's house, although only the kitchen part is damaged, it is feared that this house will collapse because its condition is already rotten, so the occupants were temporarily evacuated to relatives' homes," said Parakansalak P2BK Officer, Jujun Juaeni.