Access To Disaster Locations In Central Java, Situbondo Closed, BPBD Uses Heavy Equipment

Landslides closed road access between villages in Central Java District, Situbondo. Saturday (4/2/2023) (ANTARA)

SITUBONDO - The access road to the disaster site of Wringinanom and Patemon Villages in Jatanganteng District is isolated by landslide material. The Situbondo Regency BPBD sent heavy equipment to the landslide location which blocked road access between villages.

Head of BPBD Situbondo Sruwi Hartanto said that heavy equipment would be sent by the PUPR Service to the landslide location which blocked road access between Wringinanom and Patemon Villages in Jatibanteng District.

"The landslide that occurred on Friday (3/2) night, closing the access road to the village really needed heavy equipment to clean up the rock landslide material onto the road. We have coordinated with the PUPR Service," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, February 5.

He said the landslide material blocked the inter-village road access along about 200 meters and thickness reached 60 centimeters, requiring heavy equipment to overcome it.

The day after the landslide occurred due to heavy rains and closed the only alternative road access between Patemon and Wringinanom villages, he said, the sub-district communication forum (forkopimka), the village government, together with mutual cooperation residents, handled landslide materials.

"But because the landslide material is thick enough and the length reaches 200 meters, only part of the material is cleaned and requires heavy equipment," said Sruwi.

To this day, he continued, village road access can only be passed by train-wheeled vehicles after some of the landslide material is handled using makeshift equipment by local residents.

"We urge residents who cross the landslide site to remain vigilant, because the road is still very slippery, especially when it rains, they have to be more careful worrying about further landslides," he said.

Head of the Public Works and Housing Agency of Situbondo Regency, Gatot Siswoyo, said that today he has conducted a survey of landslide locations to bring in heavy equipment.

"Today field officers went to the location to confirm the type of heavy equipment that had to be brought to the location of the landslide which blocked the inter-village road access," he said.