Elegy for early 2021: Upstream Landslides, Downstream Flooding

The impact of climate change and environmental destruction has caused various hydrometeorological disasters in early 2021.

KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO

A school was flooded in the Tabuk River area, Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan on Tuesday (19/1/2021). The flood this time is considered to be the worst flood in the history of South Kalimantan.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Disasters continue to strike Indonesia in early 2021. Other than earthquakes in West Sulawesi and the eruption of several volcanoes, hydrometeorological disasters have also prevailed. From Aceh to Papua, some regions suffer from landslides at the upstream level and floods at the downstream level. This should serve as a warning regarding the importance of land administration and attention to disaster risks in development plans.

In Aceh, flooding has hit North Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, East Aceh, Aceh Besar, Pidie and Langsa. As many as 305 villages are submerged, affecting 33,380 people.

Also read: South Kalimantan Flood a Gloomy Picture of Natural Destruction

“Hydrometeorological disasters become more massive due to extreme rainfalls and bad environmental conditions,” said Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBA) head Ilyas on Monday (25/1/2021).

Throughout 2019, deforestation in Aceh reached 15,140 hectares, or approximately the size of 14,000 professional soccer fields. To a large extent, forest destruction has been precipitated by plantation expansion and illegal logging.

Floods often occur because 20 DAS [are damaged]

Moreover, damages in river basin areas (DAS) have also triggered flooding in Aceh. Krueng Aceh River Basin Area Management Center (BPDAS) recorded that out of 974 DAS and sub-DAS in Aceh, 20 of them are damaged. Locations with damaged DAS include Tamiang, Peureulak (East Aceh), Jambo Aye (North Aceh), Peusangan (Bireuen), Meureudu (Pidie Jaya) and Panga (Aceh Jaya).

“Floods often occur because 20 DAS [are damaged],” said Krueng Aceh BPDAS head Eko Nur Wijayanto.

DOKUMEN BPBD ACEH TIMUR

Floods in East Aceh Regency, Aceh, Monday (18/1/2021)

The worst floods hit South Kalimantan. It is recorded that as many as 712,129 people are affected by the floods, 113,420 of which are evacuating. As many as 24 people have died, while three are missing. Floods also inundated a portion of West Kalimantan and North Kalimantan.

In Java, floods struck agricultural land in Cirebon regency, West Java, last week. At least 5,287 hectares of paddy fields are submerged, with crop failures looming over hundreds of hectares of paddy fields. Floods have also inundated Sidoarjo, East Java.

Also read: The Gaping Holes in the Upstream Martapura River Area

Meanwhile, heavy rainfalls have caused flooding and landslides to recur in several areas across Manado, North Sulawesi, on Friday (22/1). This is the second hydrometeorological disaster which has occurred within the past week; a landslide caused by heavy rain killed six people on Saturday (16/1).

Papua has also suffered from hydrometeorological disasters. Heavy floods and landslides prompted by pouring rain devastated Paniai regency on Tuesday (19/1). As many as 30 houses are heavily damaged, while 45 houses are submerged in mud. Around 400 people are affected by the disaster.

Landslides

Landslides in West Java have also stained early 2021. Landslides caused by heavy rains occurred in Cimanggung, Sumedang regency, on Saturday (9/1), killing 40 people. Landslides and severe floods also took place in Cisarua, Bogor, on Tuesday (19/1). Hundreds of people have evacuated.

Also read: Landslide Suspected of Triggering Flash Floods

These two calamities bear some resemblances. According to the Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center (PVMBG), the two areas struck by the disasters are located in curved valleys or horseshoe-shaped areas with an inclination of more than 45 degrees.

“The horseshoe shape is one of the indicators of a rain catchment area. Without large trees to catch the rainfalls, landslides could not be prevented, “ said head of PVMBG’s Land Movement Mitigation Division, Agus Budianto.

KOMPAS/KRISTIAN OKA PRASETYADI

A landslide hit a shop house under the hill of Citraland housing complex, Winangun Village, Manado, North Sulawesi, Monday (25/1/2021). Landslides occurred on Friday (22/1/2021) afternoon when heavy rains flushed Manado City.

Rainfall-induced landslides also occurred in illegal mining sites in Tanah Bumbu, South Kalimantan, on Sunday evening. 10 people are still trapped in the landslides. Meanwhile, landslides on the banks of Liliba River, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, killed two people.

Extreme weathers which have also caused heavy rainfalls and hydrometeorological disasters indicate that global temperature has continued to rise. To reduce the impacts of global warming, Indonesian Climate Change and Forestry Network Mahawan Karuniasa recommended that every spatial planning policy and regional development plans were adjusted to the potential impacts of climate change. Residents who build houses on riverbanks, for instance, must ensure that the houses are at a safe distance from flooding.

Also read: President: Immediately Repair Infrastructure

Lecturer at the Bandung Institute of Technology’s (ITB) School of Architecture, Planning and Development Policy, Denny Zulkaidi, said efforts to manage spatial planning often came late, only after buildings have been constructed.

In addressing the severe inundation South Kalimantan, South Kalimantan administration plans to evaluate Regional Regulation No. 9/2015 on South Kalimantan 2015-2035 Spatial Plan. “The regulation will be revised in order to strengthen our anticipation and management of future floods,” said South Kalimantan Development Planning Board head Nurul Fajar Desira.

Disaster expert of Padjajaran University, Dicky Muslim, said understanding disaster mitigation played a key role in preventing casualties during natural disasters. By understanding the topography and characteristics of their house location, residents could become more alert amid extreme weathers, which could lead to natural disasters. (AIN/ RTG/ TAM/JUM/ IDO/ MTK/ FLO/ NIK/ ETA / IKI / OKA / KOR)

KOMPAS/ABDULLAH FIKRI ASHRI

A residents walk in floods on the Arjawinangun-Panguragan route, Cirebon Regency, West Java, Monday (18/1/2021). Floods since Monday morning have disrupted residents\' activities.

This article was translated by Astria Z. Nabila.