Tornado in Bandung-Sumedang causes 706 buildings to be damaged

A total of 706 buildings were affected by the tornado in Sumedang and Bandung. Emergency response status has been established.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Puting Beliung di Bandung-Sumedang Sebabkan 706 Bangunan Rusak

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

One of the facilities of a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Nanjung Mekar Village, Rancaekek District, Bandung Regency, West Java, was severely damaged on Thursday (22/2/2024). The facility was damaged due to a tornado that hit the area on Wednesday (21/2/2024) at around 4 pm.

BANDUNG, KOMPAS - A whirling wind disaster with a speed of 36.8 kilometers per hour hit five sub-districts in Sumedang and Bandung regencies, West Java, on Wednesday (2/21/2024) yesterday. The whirling wind caused damages to 706 buildings, public facilities, and factories.

From Kompas's monitoring on Thursday (22/2/2024), the impact of the tornado was worst in three sub-districts of Bandung Regency, namely Rancaekek, Cicalengka and Cileunyi. The total damage to buildings in the three sub-districts was 497 houses and 18 factory buildings and shops.

Meanwhile, the number of damaged residential buildings, public facilities, and factories in two sub-districts of Sumedang Regency is as many as 191 units. These two sub-districts are Jatinangor and Cimanggung.

The majority of victims suffered minor injuries.

Residents were assisted by police officers as well as Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) officials and volunteers in five districts to clean up the debris of damaged buildings since Thursday morning.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

Residents clean up the rubble of houses affected by a tornado in Nanjung Mekar Village, Rancaekek District, Bandung Regency, West Java, on Thursday (22/2/2024). Rancaekek is one of three districts in Bandung Regency hit by the tornado on Wednesday (21/2/2024).

The majority of residents' and factories' roofs were severely damaged due to a tornado. Even the dome of a mosque in Citanggulun Hamlet, Jatinangor District, collapsed due to the tremendous power of the tornado.

According to data from the West Java Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the number of affected residents in Sumedang Regency is 412 families, while in Bandung Regency it is 422 families.

Also read: Puting Tornado Hits Bandung and Sumedang, 735 Families Affected

Agus Permana (54), a resident of Griya Permata residential complex in Nanjung Mekar village, Rancaekek, revealed that a whirlwind occurred for 10 minutes accompanied by heavy rain around 4.00 PM local time. This condition caused the tiles in several rooms of his house to be damaged.

"I, along with my wife and one of our children, dared not leave the house. We held out until the tornado in the complex subsided," said this father of three.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

One of the houses belonging to resident Dewi Kartini in Citanggulun village, Jatinangor district, Sumedang regency, West Java, was severely damaged on Thursday (22/2/2024). The facility was damaged as a result of being hit by a tornado on Wednesday (21/2/2024) at 3:40 p.m.

Meanwhile, Dewi Kartini (43), a resident of Citanggulun Hamlet, Jatinangor District, stated that a whirlwind hit her hamlet at high speed at 3:40 pm. This natural phenomenon caused the roof of Dewi's terrace to collapse.

"The tornado also resulted in most of the merchandise in my kiosk being lost due to the wind," said Dewi.

Head of West Java Provincial Health Office, Vini Adiani Dewi, stated that the number of injured victims based on Wednesday night's data collection reached 40 people. There were no casualties in this incident.

"The majority of the victims suffered minor injuries. There were 20 victims in Sumedang and 20 other victims in Bandung Regency," he said.

Emergency response

The Sumedang Regency government has declared a state of emergency for the tornado disaster in Jatinangor and Cimanggung. The decision was made from Thursday onwards until the 29th of February 2024.

KOMPAS/FABIO MARIA LOPES COSTA

The condition of the dome of Al Barokah Mosque in Citanggulun Hamlet, Jatinangor District, Sumedang Regency, West Java, which collapsed on Thursday (22/2/2024). The mosque dome collapsed due to a tornado that hit on Wednesday (21/2/2024) at 3:40 pm.

"The designation of this status is due to severe damage caused by a tornado. Hundreds of buildings were damaged in Mangunarga Village, Cimanggung District, and Sayang Village, Jatinangor District," said Acting Regent of Sumedang, Herman Suryatman.

Herman stated that the Sumedang local government is currently striving to ensure that all basic needs of the victims are met. In addition, he continued, the government will rehabilitate damaged homes of residents. "We have prepared food aid and healthcare support for the victims," said Herman.

Also read: Not a tornado, the speed of the tornado in Bandung was 36 kilometers per hour

Head of the Bandung District BPBD, Uka Suska Puji Utama, states that they have also declared a state of emergency for two weeks. This is to ensure that the efforts to handle disaster victims can be carried out optimally.

"The majority of victims of the disaster whose homes have been heavily damaged have sought refuge in the homes of their relatives. We will distribute food and clean water aid to the victims and repair the damaged houses," said Uka.