Influence Of La Nina, BPBD Asks Residents Of Rejang Lebong Bengkulu To Beware Of Disasters

Illustration of heavy equipment belonging to the Rejang Lebong BPBD cleaning up landslide material. (Between)

BENGKULU - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Rejang Lebong Regency, Bengkulu Province, asked local residents to be aware of the occurrence of natural disasters as a result of extreme weather in the region.

Head of BPBD Rejang Lebong Shalahudin said the extreme weather that occurred was due to the influence of La Nina, causing heavy and moderate rain for a long time accompanied by strong winds and lightning.

"The current weather is still extreme due to the influence of La Nina, so people must be aware of it, the possibility of natural disasters can occur at any time, cannot be predicted or predicted," he said when contacted in Rejang Lebong, Thursday, May 26.

He explained that the impact of this extreme weather was that a number of sub-districts in Rejang Lebong were prone to disasters such as floods, landslides, and hurricanes.

Salahudin asked residents who live in disaster-prone areas to immediately evacuate to a safe place if it rains with moderate and heavy intensity for a long time because it can cause floods and landslides. "When it rains, don't take cover under trees or billboards because they are prone to collapse," he said.

Several sub-districts that are prone to tornadoes include Bermani Ulu and Bermani Ulu Raya Districts. It is prone to flooding in a number of villages and sub-districts located on the banks of the Air Putih and Air Duku watersheds ranging from Selupu Rejang, East Curup, Central Curup to Curup Districts.

Meanwhile, landslides have the potential to occur in almost every sub-district with the most locations being in the Sindang Kelingi and Sindang Dataran sub-districts.

According to him, to anticipate the possibility of this natural disaster, his party has alerted personnel from the Operations Center and BPBD volunteers spread over 156 villages and sub-districts.

"As for the equipment that is on standby in the form of one unit 'loader' type heavy equipment as well as rubber boats, buoys, tank cars, public kitchen cars, and logistics for victims of natural disasters," he concluded.