JakartaPost-March 13, 2024
Authorities have urged the public to stay vigilant in the coming weeks for potential extreme weather in many parts of the country amid multiple ongoing natural disasters that have claimed dozens of lives. Data from the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) shows that as of Tuesday, at least 32 people had died in flash flooding and landslides in West Sumatra. At least six people were still missing in South Pesisir regency, which was suffering the brunt of the disaster. Torrential rains since last week have caused flooding and landslides in 12 regencies and municipalities. Five regions have declared states of emergency, including South Pesisir regency, Padang Pariaman regency and Padang city. “I don’t want to hear any news about people being trapped and not getting their hands on relief aid. If there’s still flooding and the roads are cut off, you must find a way to get through,” BNPB head Lt. Gen. Suharyanto said on Monday during a coordination meeting on disaster mitigation in West Sumatra. Authorities have also started preparing for the post-disaster recovery process. Suharyanto said officials should expedite the paperwork needed to relocate residents affected by the disaster. Either the BNPB or the Public Works and Housing Ministry would lead the rebuilding effort. West Sumatra is not the only region to have been hit by flooding. Some areas in Kendari, South Sulawesi, have also been suffering from flooding since Wednesday. The disaster agency reported that more than 700 houses were inundated and at least one person had died. Some residents claimed the flooding was the worst to hit the city in decades, kompas.id reported. To help the 3,200 families taking shelter from the flooding, the Kendari Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) opened three kitchens to provide cooked meals for the affected residents, Antara reported. Read more at: https://www.thejakartapost.com/indonesia/2024/03/13/extreme-weather-looms-over-indonesia.html.
