Extreme Weather, Kendal Dihantam Disaster Hydrometeorology Bertubi-tubi

Photo via BNPB

JAKARTA - Kendal Regency, Central Java, was hit by hydrometeorolgi disasters repeatedly, after extreme weather in the form of heavy rain accompanied by strong winds hit since Friday, October 21, at 15.00 WIB.

Referring to the Pusdalops report of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), ranging from floods, landslides and strong winds, it has affected 11 sub-districts and 22 villages spread across 10 sub-districts.

Based on visual reports, the flood still submerged residential areas with a water level of 20-60 centimeters. Several fallen trees hit the roofs of houses and other infrastructure, including blocking roads.

A team from the Kendal Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) together with joint elements immediately acted quickly to clean the tree trunks.

Other visual reports are also known to have two bridges heavily damaged due to flooding from overflowing rivers. Several river slopes also experienced landslides and cracks. The Kendal Regency BPBD team together with related elements have carried out rapid assessments and appealed to residents to stay away from the location.

The results of the interim assessment showed that 2,772 families were affected, 8 residents living on the slopes of the critical embankment had been evacuated at the mosque, 2 houses were moderately damaged, 1 house was slightly damaged and 2,772 houses were flooded.

As an emergency response effort, BPBD Kendal Regency has established two public kitchens in Weleri District and Patebon District. As for the current state, most of the banjr is gradually receding, residents have started cleaning their houses from mud and materials carried by the flood and the route covered by tree trunks has been able to be passed again.

The Ahmad Yani Semarang Meteorological Station has issued weather early warning information stating that moderate to high intensity rain still has the potential to occur in Kendal Regency and its surroundings until Monday (24/10).

Responding to this information, BNPB appealed to the public and policy makers in the local area to remain vigilant and increase preparedness from potential disasters that can be triggered by weather factors.

Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto has asked the Regional Government to ensure the readiness of tools, devices and personnel to deal with potential disasters due to extreme weather.

In addition, Suharyanto also requested that all Forkopimda elements make environmental improvements so that disasters such as floods, flash floods and landslides do not occur twice.

Efforts such as monitoring riverbanks by river, river normalization and canal cleaning of residential drainage to be carried out regularly to minimize potential aftershocks which can also be caused by environmental conditions.

Especially for the community, if there is heavy rain in the duration of more than an hour, people who live along rivers and on cliff slopes should evacuate to safer places for a while.

Make sure to obtain information related to weather early warning from BMKG and information regarding disaster management from BNPB, BPBD, TNI, Polri and other agencies.