Indonesia: 46 Killed in Central Java Landslide, Flash Flood

Stefi Thenu Jakarta Globe 20 Jun 16;

Semarang. The death toll from a series of flash floods and landslides that occurred in 16 districts in Central Java over the weekend has risen to 46, local Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPD) said on Sunday afternoon (19/06).

Purworejo BNPD Head Budhi Hardjono said the highest number of fatalities was recorded in Purworejo with 29 people confirmed dead — buried in landslides — and 17 in neighboring district Banjarnegara.

Dozens of people are still reported missing.

Indonesia's Search and Rescue Agency said the team is still searching for six missing in Banjarnegara and 11 in Purworejo.

Thousands of residents have been evacuated to safer areas after torrential rains caused flash floods and landslides that damaged many homes and infrastructures.

The rescue team has been joined by members of the the military and the police as well as volunteers to find those still missing.


Floods force relocation of 2,000 Surakarta residents
Ganug Nugroho Adi The Jakarta Post 20 Jun 16;

Heavy rains that showered Surakarta, Central Java, from Saturday afternoon through to early Sunday have caused floods that are 50 to 100 centimeters deep in several areas across the city. The flooding, to which the overflowing Bengawan Solo River contributed, has inundated hundreds of houses, forcing more than 2,000 people to take refuge elsewhere.

Three districts, namely Jebres, Pasar Kliwon and Serengan, are the most affected by the flooding and within them the hardest hit areas are Pucangsawit, Sewu, Sangkrah, Semanggi, Kedunglumbu, Joyontakan, Gandekan, and Gulon.

The floodwaters reportedly began to inundate residential neighborhoods at around 8 a.m. local time on Saturday, after which the water levels continued to rise until Sunday afternoon, forcing more residents to relocate. Search and Rescue Agency (SAR) teams were dispatched to assist the residents, especially women, children and the elderly, using rubber boats.

“We’re worried that the floodwater will not yet recede tomorrow [Monday] so it would be better for us to relocate,” said Rubiyah, 55, a Joyotakan resident.

On Sunday evening, hundreds of Joyotakan residents still packed evacuation posts on river dikes and sidewalks and in schoolyards.

Volunteers from the Surakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) and the city’s Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) have set up evacuation tents and dispatched public kitchen vehicles.

“We dispatched the vehicles to several flooded locations. We don’t erect public kitchen tents anymore to serve food to refugees. It’s much more efficient and effective to use public kitchen vehicles to provide the services,” said Surakarta Deputy Mayor Achmad Purnomo when he visited flooded areas in Joyotakan.

PMI Surakarta secretary Sumartono Hadinoto said the humanitarian aid agency had sent food supplies to the flood victims. He said it was predicted the number of evacuees would continue to increase as many residents were still trapped in their houses. The floods also hit Solo Baru, an elite residential neighborhood in Surakarta. (ebf)

Water levels remains normal in C.Java dam despite heavy rains
Ganug Nugroho Adi The Jakarta Post 20 Jun 16;

Despite high intensity rainfall in Surakarta, Central Java, over the weekend, the water level at the Gajah Mungkur dam in Wonogiri remains steady.

The water volume at the dam is not expected to trigger further flooding, despite concerns in the wake of deadly floods that hit Surakarta over the weekend.

“To date, the Gajah Mungkur dam remains at a safe level. We have not opened the floodgate since Saturday. Floodwaters that hit Surakarta over the weekend were not from this dam,” said Erwando, head of the water and water resources division at state-owned water company Perusahaan Jasa Tirta (PJT) I, on Monday. Erwando is currently overseeing the Bengawan Solo River area.

He said The water level at Gajah Mungkur dam currently measures 135 meters above sea level, slightly higher than its safe limit of 136 meters. He said Jasa Tirta did not have to open the dam floodgate because dam water volume remains at a normal level.

“The floods that hit Surakarta over the weekend were caused by high intensity rain, which fell evenly in areas across the city and its surrounding areas, especially Boyolali, Klaten and Wonogiri. River tributaries in those areas overflowed their banks. The water later flowed into the Bengawan Solo River, causing floods in the down-stream part of the river,” said Erwando.

Southern Wonogiri is the biggest contributor to water volume in the Gajar Mungkur dam. The dam is a factor that is often used to determine whether or not Surakarta is likely to flood because, if the dam water level increases, the water will flow into the Bengawan Solo River.

“In principle, if it wishes to open or close the Gajah Mungkur floodgate, Jasa Tirta will coordinate with the Surakarta administration and other cities in the down-stream side of the Bengawan Solo River, such as Bojonegoro, Ngawi and Tuban,” said Erwando.

As of 10 a.m. local time on Monday, the water level surface had reached 9.30 meters or Siaga I (high alert). (ebf)