Indonesia: Gadjah Mada University reveals causes of Ponorogo landslide

Antara 5 Apr 17;

Ponorogo, E Java (ANTARA News) - Spatial change of land use and heavy rains were among the factors that triggered a deadly landslide in the Banaran Village, Ponorogo District, East Java, last Saturday (Apr 1), the University of Gadjah Mada revealed.

"The causes of the landslide in Ponorogo are quite complex," Bagus Bestari Kamarulah, a member of a swift study team, stated here, Tuesday.

Based on a brief study conducted by the team, other factors are the gradient of the cliff and the composition of the rocks, he noted.

The area is highly prone to landslides, as the gradient of the cliff is 60 degrees.

On the slope of Gede Cliff, the local people have planted ginger and bamboo plants.

"These types of plants are not suitable for cliff areas. They should be planted below the cliff," he remarked.

Moreover, the high precipitation had also caused the landslide. Incessant downpours had lashed the cliff for three days prior to the landslide.

The study was conducted in cooperation with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) and the Center of Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation.

The landslide buried 35 homes, and 28 people went missing.

The BNPB has warned the local villagers to anticipate more landslides, as further rains are forecast to fall in the area in the current rainy season.

The study indicated that the village is at risk of landslides, Tri Budiarto, deputy in charge of disaster emergency mitigation at the BNPB, pointed out.

The team also found cracks on the right and left sides of the Gede Cliff in a radius of up to 150 meters from the landslide spot.

Of the 28 missing victims, only three bodies have been found so far.

Bad weather, mostly heavy rains, had hampered the search efforts.(*)


BNPB calls on Ponorogo residents to stay alert over subsequent landslides
The Jakarta Post 4 Apr 17;

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has called on all search and rescue components and societal elements in Banaran, a village affected by landslides in Ponogoro regency, East Java, to stay alert over the possibility of subsequent landslides.

“Based on the result of our evaluation together with the Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation Agency [PVMBG] and the Gadjah Mada University’s Geology team, we must stay alert over the potential of subsequent landslides,” the BNPB’s deputy head for disaster emergency mitigation, Tri Budiarto, said as quoted by Antara on Tuesday.

Tri further said the risk of subsequent landslides remained high because there was a crack spanning from the slope of Bukit Gede to areas within a 150-meter radius on its left and right side.

Moreover, rain of medium to high intensity has continued to shower the area, hampering search and rescue operations on Sunday and Monday.

Tri said follow up mitigation steps conducted by the BNPB together with the search and rescue agency, local disaster mitigation agencies (BPBD), Indonesian Military and National Police aimed to urge locals to stay alert over the possibility of subsequent landslide.

"We have to remain vigilant. Not just people in Ponorogo but all people across East Java, Central Java and West Java must stay alert because of the high rainfall intensity," he said. So far, the search and rescue team has found only three out of 28 people reportedly buried. (dis/ebf)