Floods and landslides have cut off Sumatra’s western intercity road in Semaka district, Tanggamus, Lampung. Floods also hit North Luwu again.
By
VINA OKTAVIA/RENY SRI AYU
·3 minutes read
DOKUMENTASI SAR LAMPUNG
Lampung SAR officers inspect the flash flood location in Semaka District, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung, Wednesday (5/8/2020).
BANDAR LAMPUNG, KOMPAS – Sumatra’s western intercity route connecting Lampung and Bengkulu, precisely in Semaka district, Tanggamus regency, Lampung, as per Wednesday evening (5/8/2020), can only be accessed by motorbike. The route has been buried by floods and landslides since Tuesday night.
Yesterday evening, workers evacuated two buses that were trapped by landslide debris on the road. Apart from mud and rocks, landslide debris also included tree trunks and soil from the hills on the right and left of the road.
"Workers can just clean landslide debris in three locations. Six other locations need to be cleared from piles [of debris],” said head of the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Division of the Lampung Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Edi Nugroho when contacted on Wednesday evening.
BPBD deployed four heavy equipment to open access. However, the relatively thick pile of mud and the steep terrain made it quite difficult for the workers. This meant Edi was unable to say for sure when the clearing of the landslide debris would be completed.
Currently, the road can only be passed by two-wheeled vehicles. Four-wheeled vehicles that are about to pass have to stay or make a U-turn and take Sumatra’s middle intercity road.
Secretary of Semaka district administration, Zailani, said that the flash floods that occurred on Tuesday at 9:00 p.m., did not only cut off the western route of Sumatra in his area. The flood that was triggered by the collapse of the Way Kerap embankment also damaged 350 houses in seven villages.
Lampung SAR officers inspect the flash flood location in Semaka District, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung, Wednesday (5/8/2020).
The villages affected by the flood were Way Kerap, Sedayu, Pardawaras, Bangun Rejo, Kaca Pura, Sukaraja and Karang Rejo. The worst impact was experienced by Way Kerap village because its location was closest to the collapsed embankment.
This flood and landslide is the second disaster in Semaka district in 2020. The previous disaster occurred on Jan 9.
Tanggamus BPBD Emergency and Logistics Division head Mansyurin Hasan said a public kitchen had been set up at the disaster site. Workers have also distributed packages of rice aid to the affected residents. The agency did not setup an evacuation post because residents chose to flee to their neighbors or relatives.
In the provincial capital of Bandar Lampung, 1-meter high floods have also hit densely populated residential areas in the districts of Panjang, Kedamaian and Sukabumi.
When inspecting the flooded areas, Bandar Lampung Mayor Herman HN promised to immediately repair the drainage channels. Apart from deepening the drainage, the municipal administration will also develop a closed drainage system to prevent residents from throwing garbage in the waterways.
Subsequent floods
DOKUMENTASI BPBD LUWU UTARA
A house in Radda Village, Baebunta, North Luwu was buried by flash flood material, including logs, Tuesday (14/7/2020). Flash floods hit six sub-districts in North Luwu on Monday (13/7/2020 night).
Floods, preceded by heavy rains, also occurred in North Luwu, South Sulawesi, Tuesday night. Since the July 13 flash flood at least two subsequent floods have occurred. "The high sedimentation in the river after flooding has made the river overflow every time it rains, flooding residential areas. Luckily, the water is receding quickly," said North Luwu BPBD head Muslim Muchtar.
Currently, a number of diseases are plaguing residents living in temporary shelters. In addition to skin diseases, acute respiratory tract infections and diabetes, dozens of evacuees have also started to feel stressed.
Regarding the flood, South Sulawesi Governor Nurdin Abdullah said river revitalization was urgently needed.
“I have asked the North Luwu regency administration to vacate the watershed [of residents]. If not, we cannot perform [the river revitalization] optimally. Indeed, revitalization must be carried out immediately," he said.
The provincial administration of South Sulawesi has budgeted Rp 10 billion and Rp 5 billion for emergency response funds. The amount is outside the budget of the Public Works and Housing Ministry.
