BNPB asks to be alert to the impact of extreme weather in a number of provinces

ILUSTRASI/ANTARA/HO-BNPB)

JAKARTA - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has asked several provinces in Indonesia to be aware of the impact of extreme weather for the next week.

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari said extreme weather marked by increased rainfall, the phenomenon of moderate to heavy rain and can be accompanied by lightning and strong winds are predicted to still hit 24 provinces in Indonesia, starting from Saturday, September 10 until the next week or Friday, September 16.

Forwarding weather forecast information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the 24 provincial regions include Riau Islands, Jambi, Bengkulu, South Sumatra, Bangka Belitung Islands, Lampung, Banten, DKI Jakarta, West Java, Central Java, DI Yogyakarta, and East Java.

In addition, West Kalimantan, East Kalimantan, North Kalimantan, North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, Maluku, North Maluku, West Papua and Papua.

"In response to this, BNPB appeals to the community and policymakers in the local area to remain vigilant and increase preparedness", Abdul said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, September 12.

In anticipation of high wind disasters, efforts such as monitoring the strength of billboard structures and trimming branches and twigs of large trees in urban areas to villages, monitoring hillsides, cleaning urban drainage channels should be carried out regularly.

To anticipate the potential threat of other wet hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods and landslides, BNPB appeals to take measures such as monitoring hillsides, riverbanks, cleaning rivers, canals, settlement drainage channels, and irrigation canals regularly to minimize potential disasters that can be triggered by weather factors and environmental spatial conditions.

"If it rains for more than an hour, people living on the banks of rivers or the slopes of mountains or cliffs should evacuate to a safer place for a while", said Abdul.

Previously, a landslide occurred in Sukamaju Village, Cihaurbeuti District, Ciamis Regency, West Java, Sunday, September 11. Two residents were found dead after being buried by a landslide. Rain with high intensity at 20.00 WIB plus unstable soil conditions at the scene.

A total of 28 families/88 people in Sukahurip Village and Sukamaju Village, Cihaurbeuti District were affected by the disaster. Several residents of Sukamaju Village were forced to take refuge in a mosque not far from their settlements and the victims who died were buried today, Monday, September 12.

In addition, landslides also occurred in Cilacap Regency, Central Java, on Sunday, September 11 at 15.30 WIB. The BPBD of Cilacap Regency noted that the affected area was Tambaksari Village which borders Palugon Village, Wanareja District.

The Cilacap Regency BPBD also reported that the cliffs belonging to Perhutani had avalanches with a height of 8-15 meters closing the district crossing at 4 points with a length of 10-20 meters. With the material avalanche, the road cannot be passed by four-wheeled or two-wheeled vehicles. Besides consisting of soil and mud, the landslide material is also in the form of pine tree trunks that have been cut down.