Central Java Kudus Flood Spread to 23 Villages, Pantura Road Submerged

Illustration of flooding (ANTARA)

KUDUS - The intensity of the rain that has not subsided has triggered flash floods in Kudus Regency, Central Java, which are spreading. As of Tuesday, January 13, 23 villages in six sub-districts were submerged in water. This forced the local authorities to massively activate evacuation posts and public kitchens.

One of the locations with the most severe impact is in the Mejobo District area. In Kesambi Village and Temulus Village, water levels are reported to continue to rise to exceed 1 meter at low points. The overflow of water is triggered by runoff from three large rivers that are no longer able to accommodate the flow of shipments.

The head of Temulus Village, Suharto, revealed that this disaster was one of the most difficult for his citizens. "Almost all of the Temulus Village area was affected. About 5,000 residents' houses are now submerged in flood with varying depths," he explained.

Data from the Kudus Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) showed a very wide scale of impact:

Affected areas: 23 villages in 6 districts. Total affected residents: 32,387 people. Emergency facilities: evacuation posts and public kitchens have been activated at village halls and government buildings.

In addition to paralyzing settlements, floods also cut off the national logistics route again. The Pantura Kudus-Pati route on Tuesday was submerged in water due to the overflow of the Dawe River which carried water from the slopes of the Muria Mountains. This condition triggers long traffic jams and requires large vehicles to be careful when passing.

The local government appealed to residents to immediately evacuate to official posts if the water discharge continues to increase. The joint team of BPBD, TNI, and Polri is now focused on distributing ready-to-eat food logistics to reach residents who still choose to stay on the second floor of their homes.