JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) summarizes a series of hydro-meteorological disasters that spread on the slopes of Mount Slamet, Central Java Province.
The disaster was triggered by high rainfall with a long duration that occurred in a row in the last few days and affected the Purbalingga, Pemalang, Brebes, and Tegal regencies.
Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that a series of events in the form of flash floods, floods, landslides, and extreme weather had caused casualties, damage to infrastructure, disruption of accessibility of the area, and the displacement of residents.
"BNPB summarizes the widespread hydrometeorological disaster events in the slopes of Mount Slamet, Central Java Province, due to high rainfall with long duration that occurred in succession in the last few days," said Abdul Muhari in his statement, Sunday, January 25.
On the eastern slopes of Mount Slamet which covers the Purbalingga Regency area, heavy rainfall triggered flash floods and strong winds on Friday, January 23, in Rembang and Karangreja Districts. The overflow of the river from the upstream area brought mud, stone, and wood materials that hit settlements and closed access roads in Serang Village and Kutabawa Village.
The results of the temporary rapid survey by BNPB recorded one death and one person was injured. In addition, one house unit was reported to be severely damaged and one house unit was slightly damaged due to extreme weather. The road access to Gunung Malang Village and Bambangan Village was isolated, while the Bambangan River Bridge was reported to be completely broken.
A total of 31 families or 110 people were evacuated to safer locations in the Kutabawa Village area. Until Saturday, January 24, afternoon, heavy rain was still occurring and power outages in a number of points hampered communication and emergency handling.
Meanwhile, on the north slope of Mount Slamet, the Pemalang Regency area, flash floods occurred from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning, around 17.30 WIB to 03.30 WIB. High rainfall caused a significant increase in river discharge and triggered flash floods in Gunungsari, Penakir, and Jurangmangu Villages, Pulosari District, as well as Sima Village, Moga District.
The impact of the incident includes damage to four residential units, one worship facility, and infrastructure connecting between areas. Two connecting bridges were reported to have been cut off and the Reas River Bridge suffered structural damage.
BNPB recorded one death, two serious injuries, about 22 people were lightly injured, and 119 residents were evacuated and accommodated at the Pulosari District Office. Until this report was compiled, the weather conditions in the affected areas were still often rainy with moderate to heavy intensity accompanied by fog and wind.
On the west slope of Mount Slamet, the Brebes Regency area, moderate to heavy rain accompanied by strong winds since Saturday morning, January 24, triggered flooding, landslides, and extreme weather in Sirampog, Bumiayu, and Paguyangan Districts. BNPB recorded nine units of houses were severely damaged and washed away, two units of houses were moderately damaged, and 11 units of houses were affected.
In addition to house damage, fallen trees closed the road and hit the electricity network. Landslides occurred in Dukuh Pengasinan and landslides were reported on the retaining wall of the Sirampog-Tuwel Provincial Road. The Kali Keruh flood also damaged the Adisana-Cilibur Regency Road section along about 30 meters.
Flash floods occurred again in the Guci Tourist Area, Bumijawa District, Tegal Regency, on Saturday morning at around 01.30 WIB. Heavy rain accompanied by strong winds caused flash floods in the Gung River Basin (DAS) which crossed the tourist area. BNPB noted that this incident was the second flash flood in the near future in the Guci Tourist Area.
The impact is in the form of changes in the morphology of the river channel and the destruction of a number of tourist facilities and infrastructure, including the collapse of the Jedor Bridge and a bridge in the Pancuran 13 area, damage to the Pancuran 13 and Pancuran 5 tourist areas, the Pancuran 5 suspension bridge, and one mini excavator unit that was carried away by the current.
"BNPB notes that this incident is the second flash flood in the near future in the Guci tourist area," said Abdul Muhari.
There were no reports of casualties or damage to residents' homes in the incident in Guci. However, tourist activities in a number of affected points were temporarily suspended to reduce the risk to visitor safety.
Based on the BNPB rapid survey which refers to the temporary forensic analysis of disasters, this series of events is influenced by the characteristics of the slopes of Mount Slamet which have steep topography, short upstream river networks, and a high level of vulnerability to increased surface flow discharge during extreme rain.
"Accumulation of rainfall in the upstream area causes a rapid hydrological response, triggering flash floods with high sediment loads, and increasing the potential for landslides on river slopes and banks," he said.
As a mitigation step, BNPB encourages the strengthening of integrated river basin management and the slopes of Mount Slamet, including river channel arrangement and normalization, strengthening of bank and bridge safety structures, and control of space utilization in areas prone to flash floods and landslides.
In emergency handling, BNPB together with the affected district BPBD and the Central Java Provincial BPBD continue to coordinate across sectors, ranging from evacuating affected residents, securing dangerous areas, cleaning flood and landslide materials, to opening access to roads that are cut off.
In addition, BNPB also carried out a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) in the Central Java region which was operated through the Ahmad Yani International Airport, Semarang, to reduce excess rainfall and minimize the risk of subsequent disasters.
BNPB appeals to people who live and work in the slopes of Mount Slamet and along the river channel to increase vigilance against the potential for extreme weather and subsequent disasters, and to comply with the instructions of field officers.
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