Eight people had died and about 3,000 houses were damaged due to the 6.1-magnitude earthquake, which struck in the waters south of Malang on Saturday (10/4/2021).
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·4 minutes read
MALANG, KOMPAS — After the earthquake in Malang, East Java, data collection on victims and damages caused by the earthquake was continuously carried out. In addition to distributing aid for survivors, the government has also prepared funds to repair residents\' homes.
As of Sunday (11/4/2021) afternoon, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) registered that eight people had died due to the 6.1-magnitude earthquake, which struck in the waters south of Malang on Saturday (10/4). About 3,000 houses were damaged, 640 of them severely. A total of 179 public facilities were also damaged.
BNPB head Doni Monardo said that while visiting the earthquake disaster post at the Ampelgading district office, Malang regency, on Sunday, funds were prepared to help repair the damaged houses of residents, each of whom would be given Rp 10 million (US$683.37), Rp 25 million and Rp 50 million, according to the level of damage, from mild, moderate to severe.
About 3,000 houses were damaged, 640 of them severely. A total of 179 public facilities were also damaged.
According to Doni, houses that were slightly damaged were built independently. The requirement is that the local government must submit a proposal to the BNPB with the name, address and resident identification number.
"Before being proposed, the regional [government] should disclose a list of names [of the affected residents] at the village hall so that the community can judge which ones are entitled to receive funds for the houses with mild to severe damages because each [case] is different," he said.
In order to speed up the rebuilding process, according to Doni, heavily damaged houses will be assisted by personnel from the Indonesian Military (TNI), National Police and the Public Works and Housing Ministry. Meanwhile, housing repairs for moderate and light damages are targeted for completion before Ramadan so that residents will not be displaced for too long.
The BNPB also distributed ready-to-use funds worth Rp 1 billion to the East Java provincial government for the needs of public kitchens. Assistance was provided by Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini, who met earthquake survivors in Lumajang and Malang regencies. In addition to distributing three logistical aid trucks, the Social Affairs Ministry also sent 700 disaster alert officers from 10 regencies/cities to help evacuate victims, build shelters, set up public kitchens and organize psychosocial services.
Meanwhile, regency governments in southern East Java are trying to accelerate data collection on damages, distribution of aid and repairs of the residential sites that were ravaged by the earthquake.
Amien Widodo, a senior researcher at the Research Center for Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change at the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS), Surabaya, pointed out that East Java had the potential for earthquakes because of active faults, including in Wonorejo, Probolinggo, Pasuruan, Surabaya and Waru.
According to Amien, a number earthquakes have indicated that the causes of fatalities or deaths, among others, are unpreparedness and lack of attention to the aspects of seismic mitigation in the management of the environment and physical development.
"The main thing is the readiness of knowledge about mitigation and evacuation when a disaster occurs, thus reducing the potential for casualties," he said.
He also encouraged local governments to prepare and disseminate information on community mitigation and alertness in dealing with earthquakes, in addition to restructuring the development of areas that prioritize the principle of environmental sustainability and guarantees the safety of the community.
President\'s appeal
I remind governors, regents and mayors to continue to urge the public to strengthen cooperation and increase preparedness and awareness for any possible disaster.
With regard to successive disasters in a number of areas in the past week, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo made a virtual appeal from the Bogor Palace, West Java, on Sunday. According to the President, the recent flash floods, landslides and earthquakes indicate that disasters will continue to lurk in Indonesia, which is located on the ring of fire.
"I remind governors, regents and mayors to continue to urge the public to strengthen cooperation and increase preparedness and awareness for any possible disaster," said the President.
The President also expressed his deep sorrow for the earthquake that hit a number of areas in East Java. The President ordered his staff and local governments to carry out disaster emergency response steps. Regarding the flash floods that hit a number of areas in East Nusa Tenggara, East Flores Regent Anton G Hadjon promised to strengthen synergy with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, and maximize village officials in disaster risk reduction. Lembata Deputy Regent Thomas Ola Langoday also agreed that disaster mitigation was a priority. So far, disaster mitigation there has focused more on earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes. ( WER/BRO/DIA/FRN/KOR/NTA)