BNPB: Almost All Pantura Affected By Rob Floods And Tidal Waves

The condition of damaged houses was hit by high waves in Rembang Regency, Central Java, Tuesday (24/5). ANTARA/HO-BNPB

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) stated that almost all regencies/cities along the North Coast (Pantura), Central Java were affected by tidal flooding and tidal waves that have occurred since Monday, May 23.

"The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) team focuses on reducing disaster risk and minimizing the impact in the event of a follow-up disaster by making temporary wave barriers, clearing river obstructions and normalizing river estuaries," said Plt. Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari in a written statement quoted by Antara, Friday, May 27.

Based on data as of Wednesday (25/5), the areas affected by the tidal flood are Brebes Regency, Tegal Regency, Tegal City, Pemalang Regency, Pekalongan Regency, Pekalongan City, Batang Regency, Kendal Regency, Semarang City, Demak Regency, Jepara Regency, Regency Pati and Rembang Regency.

Then data as of Tuesday (24/5), four villages in Brebes Regency were affected by tidal flooding with a water level of 10-20 centimeters. The city of Tegal also reported that four sub-districts were submerged by tidal floods up to a height of 45 centimeters.

Meanwhile, Dampuak Village in Tegal Regency was reportedly submerged in water with a height of 40-100 centimeters.

In Pekalongan City the water level was between 10-90 centimeters, so 221 residents were forced to evacuate. Pekalongan Regency reported that four villages were affected by tidal flooding with a height of 5-40 centimeters.

Eight villages in Pemalang Regency were inundated by floods with water levels of 30-100 centimeters. Meanwhile in Batang Regency, the water level reaches 40 centimeters. Causing 1,847 residents to be affected in five villages and two sub-districts in Kendal Regency.

In the city of Semarang, the water level reached more than one meter after the seawater embankment collapsed because it was unable to accommodate the sea water which continued to rise due to high waves.

In Demak Regency, the flood reached 25-100 centimeters and affected approximately 10 thousand residents with a water level of 25-100 centimeters. In Jepara Regency, the flood level was only about 500 meters from the shoreline and submerged residential areas with a water level of 10-20 centimeters.

According to Abdul, Pati Regency was the area most affected by tidal flooding because it affected six villages in Dukuhseti District, six villages in Tayu District, and six villages in Margoyoso District. Furthermore, five villages in Trangkil District and three villages in Juwana District.

In the Rembang Regency area, in the easternmost district in the northern part of Central Java province, there are at least nine affected villages with 119 families affected and 11 residents displaced.

As a form of anticipation for further disasters, Abdul admitted that BPBD had set up evacuation tents and disaster emergency posts, public kitchens and deployed a team to help accelerate disaster management.

"As an effort to reduce disaster risk, through monitoring and management of watersheds (DAS), cleaning garbage and other materials that can clog water flow, monitoring the condition of embankments, roads and bridges in coastal areas is also important," he said.