Potential Disasters Due To Early Rain, BPBD Asks Banten Residents To Be Alert

Landslides on inter-provincial connecting roads in Cinyiru Village, Lebak, Banten, Saturday, March 28, 2020. (ANTARA-Muhammad B K)

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has asked residents of Lebak Regency, Banten to be aware of the potential for natural disasters due to rain that falls accompanied by strong winds in the early hours of the morning. "We have been hit by moderate rain since morning, afternoon and evening," said Head of the Emergency and Logistics Section of the Lebak BPBD Agus Reza Faisal in Lebak, Banten, Sunday, December 25, confiscated by Antara. Agus explained that currently the rainfall in Lebak Regency is quite high. A number of river flows, including the Cijung-Ciberang River, have recently overflowed frequently when heavy rains hit. It is very likely that if it occurs early in the morning it will be hit by heavy rain accompanied by strong winds for up to two hours, it is certain that there will be floods. "We urge residents living around the river flow to increase flood alertness," he said.

He said people living in areas prone to natural disasters could increase their vigilance in order to reduce disaster risk. So far, the Lebak Regency area has entered areas prone to natural disasters, such as landslides, ground movement, floods, flash floods and tornadoes. Usually, he said, the potential for natural disasters if hit by heavy rain accompanied by strong winds and lightning up to three hours.

Therefore, the Lebak BPBD instructs disaster officers and volunteers to monitor the banks of the Ciberang-Cijung River, which is an upstream area of the Halimun Salak National Park (TN) and Bedouin customary forests. "We ask residents to be aware if it rains at night until early morning," he said.Rumkasbitung Sub-district, East Rangkasbitung, Cijoro Lebak, Cijoro Pasir, Kolelet Wetan Village and Pabaran Village. "We ask the village, village and community unit to activate the night patrol to anticipate natural disasters," he said. Meanwhile, Lukman (50), residents of Cijoro Lebak Rangkasbitung Village have prepared electronic equipment to safety places for fear of being hit by floods. "We better secure electronics and other furniture so as not to be flooded," he said.