Hundreds Of Residents Affected By Solo Floods Evacuate In Gandekan Village

A number of children in refugee camps in the Pendopo of Gandekan Village, Jebres District, Solo, Friday (17/2/2023). ANTARA

SOLO - Hundreds of flood-affected residents have taken refuge in Gandekan Village, Jebres District, Solo, Central Java, since Thursday, February 16 afternoon.

Children were seen playing in the Gandekan Office hall. Apart from that, a number of adults were also seen chatting and sitting in front of the pavilion building.

One of the refugees, Sriyadi, said that he only had time to rest after helping the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) evacuate the elderly.

"It was just finished at 02.00 WIB. I was just taking a break, working with the SAR Team, BPBD, evacuating leftovers and old residents," he said at the refugee location as quoted by Antara, Friday, February 17.

Before finally fleeing, he had not had time to save valuables at home.

"The problem was that it was still working hours yesterday. The houses were empty, the water was rising very fast. Water from Kali Pepe entered the village very quickly. Most residents have not had time to save their belongings," he said.

He said the flood this time was quite severe after 2007 when at that time the worst flood occurred in Solo. Even at that time, residents had to flee at Surakarta City Hall for up to one week.

Head of PMI's Community-Based Disaster Preparedness Team (Sibat) for Gandekan Village, Ato Handiatmo, said that at the same location, there was also a public kitchen to meet the food needs of flood-affected residents.

"Incidentally there is a KBD (Karya Bakti Daerah) here. We are also providing public kitchens to supply food and drink for the affected residents," he said.

However, to access food supplies, they still use boats from BPBD and PMI.

Meanwhile, the Mayor of Surakarta, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, said that he would soon meet the logistical needs of the refugees.

"Later, we will fulfill the logistics soon. Other complaints, pampers, others, please wait," he said.

Asked about the lack of rubber boats, he will coordinate with BPBD. "Yes, let BPBD take care of it," he said.