BPBD Jember Urges Residents To Beware Of Floods And Landslides

Illustration/Photo: Antara

JEMBER - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Jember, East Java appealed to residents to be aware of floods and landslides caused by heavy rains that flushed several areas in the local district.

"Jember Regency is still experiencing moderate to heavy rain for the next few days based on the weather forecast from the BMKG, so we ask the public to increase their vigilance," said Jember BPBD Secretary Heru Widagdo in Jember, Tuesday, March 22.

During the past week, he continued, several sub-districts were hit by floods, namely Sukowono, Semboro, Sumberbaru, and Jenggawah sub-districts, but there were no casualties in the flood disaster.

"We continue to monitor watersheds (DAS) and areas that are passed by several rivers that have a fairly heavy water discharge, so as soon as there is information there is an increase in water discharge and it has overflowed, it is forwarded to residents in the local area," he said, as quoted by Antara.

Based on data from the Jember BPBD, the latest flood disaster hit Jenggawah District on Monday (21/3) due to the rain that flushed the area with a number of affected houses in several RT and SDN Wonojati 1, Jenggawah District also flooded.

"The results of the assessment of flooding in Jenggawah Sub-district provide recommendations that it is necessary to normalize drainage and irrigation channels, as well as make open and close shortcuts for irrigation that causes flooding to overflow into the Talang DAM river," he said.

BPBD Jember also distributed aid to flood-affected residents in several of these sub-districts, and asked the public to be aware of the potential for aftershocks.

Meanwhile, Jember Police Chief Grand Commissioner Adjutant Hery Purnomo said the flooding in Sumberbaru District was due to the silting of the old Tanggul River flow.

"In addition to reviewing the location of the flood, we also distributed packages of basic ingredients to residents affected by the floods in Sumberbaru District as a form of the Police's concern for the community," he said.