Extreme Weather Still Landslides Mount Semeru, Lumajang BPBD Imbau Warga Be Vigilant

Handling fallen trees on the slopes of Mount Semeru, Lumajang, East Java, Monday, January 2, 2023. (ANTARA/HO-Diskominfo Lumajang)

The Lumajang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) appealed to residents and climbers who climb the slopes of Mount Semeru to be aware of various potential disasters due to extreme weather that have occurred in the last few days.

Lumajang Regency BPBD Pusdalops officer Nur Cahyo said the extreme weather even caused a large tree in the Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park (TNBTS) forest area, Lumajang Regency, East Java, to fall.

"One tree was again reported to have fallen on the slopes of Mount Semeru in Ranupani Village, Senduro District, which is a forest area of TNBTS on Monday (January 2)," he said in a written statement, Tuesday, January 3, as reported by Antara.

According to him, the fall of the Dangklu tree, which is 300 cm in diameter and 17 meters high, closed the total access road link connecting Lumajang-Malang Regency through Ranupani Village.

"Congestion occurred up to 4 kilometers, but fortunately there were no casualties when the large tree fell on the road," he said.

He explained that the tree that was reported to have fallen on Monday, January 2, was allegedly affected by heavy rain accompanied by strong winds that occurred on Sunday, January 1 evening.

"The BPBD team who received the report then rushed to the scene of the case with the necessary equipment and equipment," he said.

He said the Lumajang Regency BPBD Rapid Response Team together with members of the Senduro Koramil, TNBTS and residents cut trees, so that road access was successfully opened for two wheels by prioritizing road users' safety factors because it was slippery.

"I urge the public to remain vigilant about the impacts caused by extreme weather. When it rains heavily accompanied by strong winds, people should not take shelter under trees that have thick branches and are prone to falling," he said.