Electricity Recovery in NTT is a Priority

SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN

President Joko Widodo held a virtual limited meeting from the Merdeka Palace, Jakarta, Tuesday (6/4/2021). The limited meeting was attended directly by Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin and Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono for disaster management in NTT and NTB.

KUPANG, KOMPAS — The electricity disruption in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province is predicted to only fully recover in a month from now. Seroja Cyclone did not only cause flash floods, floods and landslides that killed 124 people, but also seriously damaged electrical infrastructure, particularly the Timor network system in Bolok, Kupang city, NTT.

As of Wednesday (7/4/2021), as disclosed by the spokesman for the Governor of NTT, Marius Ardu Jelamu, based on reports from 23 regencies/cities in NTT, most regencies still had difficulty accessing telephone and electricity networks.

Also read: Victim Search Hampered by Makeshift Equipment

In a virtual meeting attended by President Joko Widodo, Jelamu further said, the President ordered the restoration of telecommunications and electricity networks as quickly as possible. The President also asked for the aid mobilization and restoration of public infrastructure.

We’re working non-stop to repair the cut electricity network and take inventory of the damage to speed up the distribution of electricity to residents\' homes.

The general manager of state electricity company PLN for the NTT Region, Agustinus Jatmiko, said that PLN had restored 359 power stations and more than 47,000 customers had already enjoyed electricity by midnight Monday. Recovery is PLN\'s priority.

"We’re working non-stop to repair the cut electricity network and take inventory of the damage to speed up the distribution of electricity to residents\' homes. Normalization on the main line of the electricity network is a priority," he said.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Residents bring aid for their relatives who are victims of flash floods in Waiwerang Village, East Flores District, East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (7/4/2021). Logistical assistance is distributed and transported by sea.

Adonara\'s condition

According to Kompas\' observation on Adonara Island, East Flores, NTT, a number of Trans-Adonara roads were cut off. In Terong village, East Adonara, the road was damaged, covered with stones. The width of the emergency track was less than 2 meters. The road was inundated with water and potholes, thereby making it difficult for drivers to guess the direction.

The disconnected Waiburak Bridge in East Adonara district had not been handled. The bridge, which stretches dozens of meters, connects five of the eight districts on Adonara Island (an area of 509 square kilometers), namely East Adonara, Klubagolit, Ile Boleng, Witihama, and Adonara.

Also read: Speed up Evacuation and Management of Victims

"The emergency bridge should have been completed. It is now the fourth day, but there are no signs for the completion. On the other hand, the victims in several locations really need help,” said Antonius Wuran, 45, a disaster volunteer.

With regard to infrastructure repair, President Joko Widodo has ordered the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry to immediately get involved.

At the disaster sites, the search for victims was still hindered by a lack of equipment. In Nelelamadike village, there was only one excavator, Waiburak one excavator, and in Oyangbarang village there was no heavy equipment. Residents searched for bodies manually. Heavy equipment mobilization was slowed down by bad weather.

Also read: Grief Strikes Adonara Island

Based on observations by the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) on Wednesday afternoon, the position of the Seroja Cyclone was moving away from Indonesian territory, about 610 km south of Mataram city, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). On Thursday, the position of the cyclone would move further away, but there is still a risk of causing rain and strong winds, including in Bali, NTB and NTT.

KOMPAS/P RADITYA MAHENDRA YASA

Material piles of logs and building remains carried by flash floods in Waiwerang Village, East Flores District, East Flores Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, Wednesday (7/4/2021). Flash floods that hit the village caused nine people to die and two victims have not been found.

Assistance

Head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), Doni Monardo, said heavy equipment had been deployed from Larantuka, the capital of East Flores regency, by boat. The excavators would speed up the search for victims and open access, while dump trucks transport assistance for victims.

The boat sailed from Maumere, the capital of Sikka regency, 137 kilometers west of Larantuka. The ship could only sail after the waters began to calm down. Previously, high waves had hit the sea since last weekend.

In an online press conference on Wednesday evening, Doni said floods and landslides in NTT had killed 138 people and 61 people were missing. A total of 688 houses were severely damaged, 272 were moderately damaged, and 154 were slightly damaged. The number of refugees reached 13,230.

Also read: Flash Floods Jolt Adonara

Thus far, a number of areas are not yet accessible, such as in Malacca regency, East Flores regency and Lembata regency. In Malaka, access has been blocked by landslides. Meanwhile, access to Lembata and several islands in East Flores is hampered by high waves.

In Bima regency, NTB, the removal of debris from flash floods continues in dozens of villages. Five days after the flash flood, the school building still cannot be used. The cleaning of 49 school buildings has been constrained by a lack of equipment and puddles.

A number of regions are also preparing to send assistance to NTB and NTT. TNI (Indonesian Military)/Polri (National Police) personnel as well as sea or air transportation have also been deployed to transport humanitarian aid and speed up evacuations during the disaster emergency response period. (BRO/AIK/ETA)

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.