Best of our wild blogs: 20 Jun 16

Juvenile Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) being scavenged by Weaver Ants (Oecophylla smaragdina) @ Pasir Ris
Monday Morgue

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Crocodiles and sharks seen off Woodlands

My Paper AsiaOne 20 Jun 16;

Crocodiles and sharks have been sighted lurking in the sea off Woodlands Waterfront Park, triggering concern about the safety of the public, especially children who like to hunt for crabs along the shore, Shin Min Daily News reported.

Although the park's jetty and promenade are fenced off from the waters of the Strait of Johor with railings, the "no swimming" notices posted along these stretches carry no warnings about sharks or crocodiles.

But just two weeks ago, an angler fishing at the jetty snared a crocodile which had bitten on his fish hook, reported the Chinese evening daily.

"The fishing rod was suddenly yanked by a huge force. On closer look, I realised it was a crocodile about 3m long that was caught," Suhairi told the newspaper on Saturday.

"I had a tug of war with it for about three minutes before it broke away, snapping the line," added the 27-year-old.

A video clip of the incident showed the angler using all his strength to pull the crocodile on shore but the reptile proved too strong for him.

Mr Suhairi said he had seen three crocodiles swimming in the area before the incident.

Chen Yongping, 60, had also seen two crocodiles in the waters and wondered whether there was a crocodile habitat near the park.

The cleaner said he feared especially for the safety of those who come into the waters in kayaks from Sembawang.

"They would be in danger if they run into crocodiles," he told Shin Min.

Francis Toh, a frequent visitor to the park, said children, mostly in small groups, are often seen scouring for crabs on the marshland bordering the sea.

Shin Min noted that the 1m-high barricade would be easy for children to climb over, and the muddy shore, strewn with stones of all sizes, just lies beyond some thickets.

But it is hard to tell the depth of the waters at the sea's edge, it pointed out.

Mr Chen said besides crocodiles, sharks are also often spotted in the area.

"At least six baby sharks have been caught this year," he noted.

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Indonesia: Flooding, landslides hit areas in southern Central Java

The Jakarta Post 19 Jun 16;

High intensity rain in southern Central Java on Saturday caused floods and landslides across several areas. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) records that flooding and landslides have occurred in at least eight areas.

“Temporary reports from the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agencies [BPBDs] to the BNPB post reveal that floods and landslides have occurred in seven regencies, namely Banjarnegara, Banyumas, Karanganyar, Kebumen, Purworejo, Wonogiri and Wonosobo and in Surakarta,” BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said as quoted by kompas.com in a statement on Sunday.

According to the BNPB, flash floods hit the Jatiroto and Purbowangi villages in Buayan district, Kebumen, at around 7 p.m., local time, on Saturday. The flooding reached 50 to 100 centimeters in height as the rivers in the two villages overflowed.

While BPBD officials and other elements strived to evacuate local residents to safer places, a landslide reportedly occurred in Semampir, Sampang village, Sempor district, Kebumen. Three people are feared to be buried under the mud. As of Sunday, authorities continued to search for the buried people but rescue operations for Kebumen’s landslide have been hampered due to the incessant rain.

A landslide also reportedly occurred in Gumelem Kulon village, Susukan district, Banjarnegara on Saturday afternoon. Heavy rain across several areas in the regency caused thick mud to cover roads in the village. Another landslide occurred when Gumelem Kulon villagers worked together to clean the road of mud. Three people were reportedly killed in the incident. They are Sudarno, 40, Ahmad Bahrudin, 40, and Wato, 40. A landslide in a different part of Banjarnegara buried two houses and demolished the Setia Abadi early childhood education center building.

The BPBD Banjarnegara’s quick-response team was deployed to the location to carry out emergency operations. A joint team comprising personnel from the Military District Command (Kodim) 0704/Banjarnegara, the Banjarnegara Police, the Susukan community health center and volunteers coordinated with related authorities to carry out evacuation operations. (ebf)


13 killed as landslides bury Central Java villages
Agus Maryono The Jakarta Post 19 Jun 16;

At least 13 people have been killed in landslides caused by heavy rain in the Central Java regencies of Banjarnegara and Kebumen.

The torrential rain, which fell all day Saturday, also caused flooding in Tambak and Sumpiuh districts in Banyumas regency, washing away two houses but causing no reported fatalities.

“The flood water has receded now, yet our worries remain. It seems the rain will continue to fall; there are dark clouds across the sky,” Sumpiuh resident Saridin, 43, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.

On Saturday evening, a landslide buried three houses in Sampang village, Sempor district, Kebumen. Six people are feared buried in the mud; search operations remain ongoing.

Moel Wahyono, commander of the Cilacap-chapter National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), which handles natural disasters in southern Central Java, said a landslide had buried a house in Gumelem village, Susukan district, resulting in seven deaths.

“We are focused on handling landslides and flooding in Banjarnegara, Banyumas and Kebumen. We are striving to evacuate victims in Banjarnegara, but the situation on the ground complicates the evacuation,” said Wahyono.

The head of the Banjarnegara Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD)’s rapid response team, Andri Sulistyo, said the seven landslide victims killed in Gumelem were still working to clear a road covered by mud from a previous landslide in the village when the incident took place.

“They were removing the mud and debris from the road when another landslide suddenly hit,” said Andri.

The flooding in Sumpiuh district in Banyumas regency engendered major delays to the rail link between Tambak and Sumpiuh, submerging and damaging the tracks.

“By around 9 p.m. local time, we had managed to repair all rail tracks and bridges, returning them to normal operation,” said Surono, a spokesperson for state-owned railway company PT Kereta Api Indonesia’s Operation Region V Purwokerto. (ebf)


No emergency status yet for C. Java floods, landslides
Suherdjoko The Jakarta Post 19 Jun 16;

Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo has yet to issue an emergency alert status in response to the flooding and landslides that struck 16 of the province’s regencies and municipalities over the weekend.

Temporary data reveal that 24 people were killed in landslides caused by torrential rain in several areas across Central Java beginning on Saturday. The areas worst hit include Banjarnegara, Banyumas, Karanganyar, Kebumen, Purworejo, Surakarta and Sukoharjo.

Ganjar said on Sunday that his administration had not yet decided to increase the emergency alert status of the natural disasters. “If the flooding has not receded by [Monday], we will evaluate the status,” he said in Surakarta, where he was supervising relief efforts for those affected by flooding.

The added that the Central Java administration, together with the Central Java Disaster Mitigation Agencies (BPBD), was prioritizing the evacuation and handling of refugees, assuring reporters and residents that supplies were sufficient to cater to all those who needed them.

“If there is a lack of supplies, regents and mayors will directly coordinate with us,” Ganjar said, after visits to some of the worst-hit villages, including Demangan, Jaten and Ngeringo.

Visiting the Bengawan Solo River, Ganjar registered shock that there was no clear distinction between the river’s surface and town settlements, the river having burst its bank and inundated a number of areas.

Ganjar expressed hope that all residents who insisted on remaining in their homes could be quickly evacuated if rain continued to fall and further flooding occurred.

To anticipate similar incidents in the future, the governor said the administration had coordinated with the Bengawan Solo River Management Agency to build a green belt along the river.

“For the time being, we are preparing public kitchens and other facilities for refugees.” (ebf)


24 killed in Central Java`s floods, landslides
Antara 19 Jun 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - A total of 24 people were killed and 26 others were reported missing in floods and landslides that hit 16 districts in Central Java, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said.

"The natural disasters were triggered by heavy rain which fell since Saturday afternoon until mid night," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the head of the Data and Information Center of the BNPB, said in a press statement here on Sunday.

The districts/municipal cities which were hit by the floods and landslides in Central Java were Purworejo, Banjarnegara, Kendal, Sragen, Purbalingga, Banyumas, Sukoharjo, Kebumen, Wonosobo, Pemalang, Klaten, Magelang, Wonogiri, Cilacap, Karanganyar and Kota Solo.

Sutopo said the disaster also caused damage to tens of houses buried by landslides and thousands of others inundated by flood waters.

Most of the dead victims were found in Purworejo District. Five residents of Karangrejo village of Loano subdistrict were buried by landslides while nine others (non local residents) were also found dead. Rescue workers are still searching for those being buried by landslides.

"When a small landslide blocked the road in the location, three passenger of a truck tried to move away the rocks. Behind the truck were several motorcyclists. All of a sudden a major landslides happened and buried the vehicles and people on the road. Nine dead victims have been evacuated," Sutopo said.

Landslides also took place in Donorati village of Purworejo District where 15 residents were reported missing. Two were killed in Sidomulyo and Pacekelan villages, four were still missing.

In Jelog village, Kaligesing, two were reported missing and tens of houses were buried by landslides.

Floods as a result of the overflow of Bogowonto River in Purworejo District claimed the lives of four and caused two others missing.

In Kebumen District, hundreds of houses were inundated and one resident was killed.

Six were found dead in the landslides in Sampang Village, Sempor Subdistrict.

Landslides also occurred in Banjarnegara District, killing six people and causing damage to tens of houses.

The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) is still carrying out emergency response. It is assisted by various sides including police and military personnel.(*)


Banjarnegara landslides claim six lives
Antara 19 Jun 16;

Banjarnegara, C Java (ANTARA News) - Landslides claimed six lives in two areas in Gumelem Kulon Village, Banjarnegara District, Central Java Provinces, on Saturday.

"They were victims of landslides on Saturday. (The landslides) hit two separate locations. Three (bodies were found) in Grumbul Wanarata and three others in Grumbul Gunung Duwur in Gumelem Kulon Village," Catur Subandrio, head of the Banjarnegara disaster mitigation office, said here, Sunday.

The victims in Grumbul Gunung Duwur are Tariwen (52), Riatin Fauzi (10), and Fina Sritanti (10). They were evacuated on Saturday at 10:30 p.m. local time.

In Grumbul Wanarata, the dead victims are Ahmad Hidayatulloh (40), Sudarno Dasimin (45), and Ahmad Bahrudin (40). They were evacuated on Saturday at 9:23 pm. local time.

Three residents of Grumbul Wanarata were injured in the disaster.

In the meantime, a landslide buried six residents of Duku Phkumbang, Sampang Village, Sempor, Kebumen District, Central Java Province, on Saturday evening.

The landslide also destroyed six houses, Sempor Sub-District Head Joko Ganjar Supramono said in Kebumen, Sunday.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has instructed its regional branch offices (BPBD) to stay vigilant in anticipation of possible floods and landslides following signs of climate change impact.(*)

Number of dead victims in Java`s landslides reaches 31
Antara 20 Jun 16;

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Rescuers found seven dead victims out of the 26 persons reported missing in floods and landslides that hit 16 districts in Central Java on Sunday.

"Until Sunday afternoon, the number of dead victims reaches 31 people," according to head of the Data and Information Center of the

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho here on Sunday.

The seven bodies were found in Purworejo Sub-district, Sutopo stated, adding that the rescue team continued searching the other 19 people who were reported missing.

Sutopo earlier stated that 24 people were killed and 26 others went missing in floods and landslides that hit 16 districts in the Central Java.

"The natural disasters were triggered by heavy rain which fell since Saturday afternoon until mid night," Sutopo said in a press statement.

The districts/municipal cities which were hit by the floods and landslides in Central Java were Purworejo, Banjarnegara, Kendal, Sragen, Purbalingga, Banyumas, Sukoharjo, Kebumen, Wonosobo, Pemalang, Klaten, Magelang, Wonogiri, Cilacap, Karanganyar and Kota Solo.

Sutopo said the disaster also caused damage to tens of houses buried by landslides and thousands of others inundated by flood waters.

Most of the dead victims were found in Purworejo District. Five residents of Karangrejo village of Loano subdistrict were buried by landslides while nine others (non local residents) were also found dead.

"When a small landslide blocked the road in the location, three passenger of a truck tried to move away the rocks. Behind the truck were several motorcyclists. All of a sudden a major landslides happened and buried the vehicles and people on the road. Nine dead victims have been evacuated," Sutopo pointed out.(*)

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