Floods In 5 Districts In Jayapura City Begin To Retreat, Electricity Still Out

Basarnas officers evacuate residents trapped by floods in the Kali Acai residential area, Abepura District (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - Acting Head of the Center for Disaster Data, Information and Communication of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), Abdul Muhari said that the flooding that hit parts of the Jayapura City area in Papua Province was reported to have gradually receded.

"BPBD reports that the flood is gradually receding but the electricity is still out," he said as quoted in a BNPB press release received in Jakarta, Antara, Friday, January 7.

Abdul quoted a report from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jayapura City which stated that the flood had forced 500 people to flee to the houses of their closest relatives.

According to him, until now BPBD officers are still evacuating residents affected by floods and landslides in Jayapura City.

Heavy rains that have fallen since Thursday night caused flooding and landslides in several districts in Jayapura City, including the Districts of North Jayapura, South Jayapura, Abepura, Heram, and Muara Tami.

The water level in flood-affected areas is reported to average one and a half to two meters. The water level in the Yotefa Abepura Market area even reached three meters.

According to temporary data from BPBD, the flood caused seven people to die in Jayapura City. Floods also caused residential areas and public facilities such as hospitals and government offices to be inundated and caused power outages.

BNPB appealed to the government and residents of Jayapura City to be aware of possible aftershocks and other hydrometeorological disasters.