Samararang Garut Landslides, BPBD Suspects The Trigger For The Insurgency Of Drainage Channels To Burst Soil

Heavy equipment vehicles clean up landslide material in Cisarua Village, Samararang District, Garut Regency, West Java, Ahadu (7/5/2023). (PHOTO BETWEEN/HO-BPBD Garut)

GARUT - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Garut Regency sent a team to help tackle communities who were victims of landslides that caused damage to their houses and were threatened with landslides in Samararang District.

"We have dispatched officers along with others to help residents affected by landslides," said Head of BPBD Garut Regency Satria Budi in Garut, Sunday, May 7, as reported by Antara.

He explained that heavy rains in the Garut area were one of the triggers for landslides that hit residential areas in Cisarua and Parakan villages, Samarang sub-district, Garut, Saturday, May 6 morning.

The disaster, he said, had damaged five houses, some of which were damaged, then madrasas buildings, mosques, and dozens of other houses were threatened with landslides in the area.

"Now the damaged houses have been repaired in mutual cooperation, others are threatened," he said.

He conveyed that the Garut BPBD did not only send officers to help the community, but also distributed logistical assistance to residents affected by landslides.

"We are doing community service together, as well as logistical assistance has been distributed," he said.

He added that the landslide disaster was caused by a clogged drainage channel and then eroded the ground and hit the building under the cliff.

The condition of the house under the cliff, he said, is quite dangerous, for that the community needs to be aware of it, especially when it rains so that it immediately vacates the house.

In addition to public awareness, said Satria, his party has also lowered heavy equipment to reopen the drainage route which was previously covered by landslides and it is hoped that landslides will not occur again.

"We have now lowered heavy vehicles to open drainage so as not to enter residential areas," he said.

He appealed to people living in the area to always be vigilant because currently high-intensity rain is still happening.

If the rain lasts a long time, he said, the community must evacuate independently to a safer place to avoid the dangers of further landslides.

"If it rains heavily, it can evacuate independently, then the community can also work to clean up the flow of water so that it runs smoothly, not littering," he said.

Apart from Garut BPBD, assistance has also been distributed from Garut DPRD member Yudha Puja Turnawan who directly provided food packages assistance and also sent volunteers to help clean up avalanche material in the area.