President Jokowi Instructs Regional Governments to Handle Floods and Landslides

President Jokowi Instructs Regional Governments to Handle Floods and Landslides

Heavy downpour which starts to frequently occur in several regions in Indonesia has caused floods and landslides in several regions. Related to this condition, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has instructed Regional Governments and Provincial Agency for Disaster Management (BPBD) to immediately lend a hand.

“Flash floods and landslides hit several regions. The Regional Governments and BPBD must immediately lend a hand. We need to be alert on disaster in rainy season,” President Jokowi said through his twitter account @jokowi on Tuesday (9/2) evening.

Since the beginning of February, there were several floods and landslides in a number of areas. For example, landslide hit Gunung Larang Village, Salam Subistrict, Brebes Regency, Central Java on Tuesday (2/2). In the meantime, floods swamped Bayan Subdistrict, Purworejo Regency, Central Java, while the landslide that hit Gebang Subdistrict resulting in casualties.

Floods also swamped houses and rice fields in Batu Kerbau Village, Pelepat Subdistrict, Bungo Regency, Jambi, on Saturday (6/2); in Jatipurwo Village, Jatipuro Subdistrict, Karanganyar Regency, Central Java, on Sunday (7/2); and in Rokan Administrative Village and Rokan Kotoruang Village, Rokan IV Koto Subdistrict, Rokan Hulu Regency, Riau.

Meanwhile, floods also drowned 400 houses in Pangkalan Subdistrict, Limapuluh Kota Regency, West Sumatra, on Monday (8/2); and drowned thousands of houses in 12 Subdistricts in Kampar Regency, Riau, on Tuesday (9/2). (ES) (RAS/MMB/YM/Naster)