Extreme Weather Until February, Time For Billboard Owners In Yogyakarta To Check Construction So It Doesn't Collapse

Photo via Antara

JAKARTA - The Yogyakarta City Regional Disaster Management Agency asked the management of billboards to re-check the construction of the billboards that were installed. This can be a measure to anticipate the potential for billboards to collapse during heavy rain or strong winds.

The Yogyakarta City BPBD's appeal is related to the collapse of a large billboard installed at the Condongcatur intersection, Sleman Regency on Wednesday, January 12, when heavy rains hit.

"It is important to remind the managers or owners of billboards to re-check the condition of the billboards they have. Not only trees that have the potential to collapse when it rains, but also billboards," said Yogyakarta City BPBD Head Nur Hidayat in Yogyakarta, Thursday, January 13.

Based on weather forecasts, Nur said that the peak of the rainy season will occur in January and February, thereby increasing the potential for various disasters, such as extreme rainfall, strong winds, floods, landslides and fallen trees.

“I think the falling billboard incident was an unexpected thing, and it is possible that similar incidents could occur in buildings that have almost the same construction. Everything needs to be re-checked for anticipation," he said.

People who have houses with light tiles and are expected to be easily detached during strong winds also do not escape the appeal of the Yogyakarta City BPBD.

Socialization and appeals related to peak rainy season vigilance are carried out through sub-districts and sub-districts as well as Disaster Resilient Villages (KTB) which have now been formed in 130 villages. "Anticipation needs to be done to minimize casualties in the event of a disaster," he said.

All KTBs are also asked to carry out routine surveillance and report immediately if they find various things that have the potential to lead to disaster events, such as cracked talud or trees that are too shady.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Yogyakarta City Housing and Settlement Public Works Agency, Hari Setya Wacana, said that all billboards or billboards that had permits had met construction standards.

"For billboards that have a permit, of course the construction structure has been declared feasible. However, we don't know how the construction is feasible for unlicensed billboards," he said.

He called the supervision of billboards a joint task of various regional apparatus organizations. An advertisement must have a permit and an assessment of the feasibility of the construction is under the authority of the DPUPKP.

As for supervision in the field, it is the authority of Satpol PP, especially to control billboards that violate permits.