Joint Officers Find 7 People Killed By Floods In Kudus, Central Java

Photo archive - A resident of Jati Wetan Village, Jati District, Kudus Regency, Central Java, crossed a flooded road up to a depth of 100 meters. (ANTARA/Akhmad Nazaruddin Lathif)

The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said seven residents of Kudus Regency, Central Java (Central Java) who were victims of the flood disaster were found dead by joint officers. Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari said the victims were found dead at different times and locations. As many as five victims were found dead stranded in the river area and rice fields each; the Kirig rice fields (three victims), the Temus rice fields (one victim), then one victim was found in the river embankment not far from the previous discovery area. Then one victim died allegedly due to being electrocuted by electricity and found joint officers lying in a flood puddle. "Today, another victim was found in the Dukuh Goleng rice fields, bringing the total to seven victims who died," he said in a statement received in Jakarta, Tuesday, March 19. Based on information previously received, the victims were reported missing after being carried away by the flood currents that hit Kudus since Thursday (13/3). However, he has not been able to confirm the identities of the seven victims who died because the joint team of officers in the field currently still has to evacuate residents. Based on data from the Pusdalops Team of the Kudus Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), this flood disaster has inundated 6,523 residents' houses, and 2,295 hectares of farmers' rice fields, which is threatened with crop failure. Meanwhile, of the 39,272 Kudus residents affected by the flood, 4,188 people were forced to be evacuated to the evacuation post because their homes were flooded quite badly. The areas affected by the flood were quite severe, each targeting five sub-districts; Mejobo, Jati, Undaanaan, Jekuloko and Kaliwungi with water levels reaching 1.5 meters. In addition to heavy rains that are still pouring down Kudus and its surroundings, this condition has also been exacerbated due to the breakdown of the river basin, one of which is the Wulan River. A total of 25 refugee posts have been alerted to accommodate the refugees, including those located at Gulang Village Hall, Payaman Village Hall, Jati Wetan Village Hall, Kedungdowo Village Hall, Khuriyatul Fikri Paslor TKMI Tanjungkarang, DPRD Building, JHK Kudus Building, and Pasar Saerah.

Abdul ensured that the posts or refugee camps were at the same time used to meet the needs of food, clean water, and health for flood victims, which were distributed by BNPB, BPBD and together with the Social Service and other relevant agencies in the local area.