Destroy 191 Houses, Sumedang Regency Government Sets Emergency Response Status Angin Puting Beliung

The condition of the building along Jalan Raya Bandung-Garut appears to have suffered severe damage due to a tornado in Sumedang Regency, West Java, Thursday (22/2/2024). (ANTARA/Rubby Jovan)

The Sumedang Regency Government (Pemkab), West Java, has declared an emergency response status for the tornado that occurred last Wednesday and caused 191 buildings to be damaged. Acting (Pj) Sumedang Regent Herman Suryatman said this status was determined because there had been heavy damage caused by the tornadoes in Jatinangor and Cimanggung sub-districts. " “ Decision Letter Number 215 of 2024 concerning Determination of the status of Emergency Response for the Puting Beliung Wind Disaster for seven days starting from February 22 to 29, 2024, ” Herman said in Sumedang Regency, Antara, Thursday, February 22. Herman stated that the determination of the emergency response status for the tornado could be extended according to the needs of the situation on the ground. He added that at the time of the incident that occurred on Wednesday (21/2) at 16.00 WIB, hundreds of roofs of houses and factories were swept away by a tornado. Even the trees in the two sub-districts fell as a result of this incident. "The impact is extraordinary. The first time there was a tornado of this size,” he said. Although it did not cause any casualties in the natural disaster of hurricanes in the area, 191 buildings were recorded to have been damaged. "There are two villages that were severely affected, in Mangunarga Village, Cimanggung District as many as 113 buildings were slightly damaged and 10 were moderately damaged and Sayang Village, Jatinangor District 67 buildings were slightly damaged and 1 was moderately damaged," he said. Furthermore, Herman conveyed that the focus of the Sumedang Regency Government at this time is to ensure that the basic needs of the affected residents are met and damaged houses can be immediately rehabilitated.

"For residents, we make sure they can take shelter in the tent that we have built. For basic needs, especially food, we have also prepared completeness, health and security support. God willing, residents' houses, we will immediately rehabilitate them," he said.