Refusing An Evacuation By Officers, A Cikampek Resident Found Dead In The Floods

Illustration - Officers evacuate flood victims in Karawang. (ANTARA)

KARAWANG - A resident of Cikampek, Karawang Regency, West Java, died after being carried away by the river current in the flood location which surrounded the victim's residence. Initially, the victim refused to be evacuated by officers.

"The victim's name is Mamat, who is around 55 years old," said Yusuf Nurwenda, a local resident, quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, February 28.

The victim is a resident of BMI 2 Residence, West Dawuan Village, Cikampek District, Karawang. During the incident, the victim's house was flooded with a height of about 1.5 meters.

It was stated, before being found lifeless, the victim had received an offer to be evacuated to a safer place by officers.

However, when he was about to be evacuated, the victim refused and only asked his wife and children to be evacuated.

"When he was about to be evacuated, the victim refused. Then some time later, news came that the victim was found lifeless, about 50 meters from his house," he said.

The victim was then taken to the Karya Husada Cikampek Hospital.

Meanwhile, the Karawang Regency Government has established a disaster emergency response status following the flood that hit 18 districts around Karawang.

Regional Secretary of Karawang Acep Jamhuri, said that in accordance with a coordination meeting with Muspida elements, Karawang Regent Cellica Nurrachadiana had decided on a disaster emergency response status.

One of the reasons for establishing a disaster emergency response is the expansion of the flood-stricken area in Karawang, so it needs maximum handling.

According to the district government's records, in the last few days until now, floods have hit 52 villages and three sub-districts spread across 18 sub-districts around Karawang.

The flood disaster in the Karawang area occurred due to high rainfall which triggered the overflow of a number of rivers in the area. Among them is due to the overflow of the Cibeet, Citarum, Cikaranggelam, and Ciherang Rivers.