BPBD Calls Tornado Losses In Riau Islands Karimun Capai Rp4.9 Billion

Illustration. Takong Shark Island, Karimun Regency, Riau Islands. (Between-Rusdianto)

The Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Riau Islands Province (Kepri) Muhammad Hasbi stated that material losses due to the tornado in Karimun Regency were estimated at IDR 4.9 billion.

Hasbi said the tornado that hit residential areas around Batu Lipai and Wonosari, Meral District, Karimun Regency, Tuesday, May 14, damaged 196 buildings, but there were no casualties.

"The damaged buildings consist of hundreds of houses, kiosks and carts selling, to the cemetery fence," said Hasbi in Tanjungpinang, Riau Islands, Tuesday, May 21, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said, after a tornado occurred, the Riau Islands BPBD immediately deployed a Post-Disaster Needs Study Team (Jitupasna) to go down to conduct studies and verify building damage.

Verikasi dilakukan guna mengetahui kondisi real jumlah bangunan rusak, karena Pemprov Kepri melalui OPD teknis terkait bakal membantu perbaikan bangunan rusak diterjang payelung, seperti rumah-rumah warga.

"From temporary data, there are residents who own more than one house affected by a tornado, so it is impossible for us to help fix everything, definitely one of them," said Hasbi.

Hasbi added that for the time being the Riau Islands Provincial Government through BPBD has distributed food aid packages to 188 residents affected by the tornado in Karimun Regency. Food packages consist of rice, cooking oil, eggs, milk, flour to instant noodles.

The assistance is expected to help ease the burden on the community in meeting their daily needs.

"For other assistance, such as repairing building damage, we are still waiting for valid data verification," said Hasbi.

He added that a joint team from the Riau Islands Provincial Government and Karimun Regency worked hand in hand to clean up the rubble of buildings that were hit by a tornado.

Meanwhile, one resident in Karimun Rustam said a tornado occurred suddenly, Tuesday, May 14 at noon.

At first he saw the wind circling in the air and suddenly came down to sweep his house and other residents' houses.

"My house's roof and canopy were swept away by a tornado, fortunately there were no casualties," said Rustam.