BPBD Garut: Floods In Banyuresmi Due To Piles Of Garbage Clogging The River

A resident stands on a pile of garbage that clogs the flow of the Cibuyutan River, Banyuresmi District, Garut Regency, West Java (Source: Garut BPBD Documentation)

JAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Garut Regency, West Java said the flood disaster that hit residential houses in Banyuresmi District was due to piles of garbage that clog the river flow in the area.

"Because the watershed (watershed) channels are clogged with garbage," said Head of BPBD Garut Regency, Satria Budi in Garut, Sunday, November 21. He said the local government had made efforts to deal with flooding by dredging up all the garbage and mud from the Cibuyutan River using heavy equipment and large trucks.

He hoped that after the river flow was clear of various types of garbage, there would be no more flooding in Citamiang Village, Sukalaksana Village, Banyuresmi District. "Alhamdulillah, through mutual cooperation, the water can begin to flow and even the affected houses have begun to recede," he said.

He also appealed to all elements of the community to raise awareness and always work together to clean rivers and sewers so that they run smoothly when it rains. In addition, he continued, people do not litter, especially into rivers because the impact will cause flooding like what happened in Banyuresmi.

"The appeal can still be to protect the environment and not litter and reactivate the culture of gotong royong," he said.

Previously, the flow of the Cibuyutan River overflowed due to the large piles of garbage that eventually caused flooding which inundated the houses of residents in Citamiang Village, Sukalaksana Village, Banyuresmi.

Luckily, the 50-meter high flood did not cause any casualties, leaving only dirt in the residential neighborhoods in the area.