Martha H, Fardah Antara 19 Mar 19;
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Environmental Affairs and Forestry Ministry has confirmed there was no illegal logging activity in the Sentani areas hit by flash floods on Saturday (March16, 2019), according to IB Putera Parthama, the ministry's Director General for River Basin Management.
There were no logs floating or swept away by flood waters in the Sentani Sub-district, Jayapura District, Indonesia's eastern most province of Papua, Perthama said here, Tuesday.
"Branches and roots of the floating trees were intact. It shows that the trees were not a result of the illegal logging activity (suspected of having) caused the flash floods," he told the press.
Sentani located in the Cycloop mountainous area is prone to flash floods and landslides during heavy rain because the area has a steep slope and an unstable river basin.
The flooding on March 16, 2019, was triggered by heavy rains that went on incessantly for six hours.
The forest conversion in Sentani was also not significant, as it covered a total area of 495.47 hectares or 3.3 percent during the 2012-2017 period.
"From 2012 to 2017, the forest area converted into non-forest area reached only 3.3 percent. So, it's not strong enough to associate the disaster with the forest conversion," he said.
According to the 2018 data, the forest coverage in the river basin area in Sentani was around 55 percent, meaning it was good enough.
The flash floods in Sentani killed at least 82 people and rendered 74 others missing, while the landslide in Ampera in Jayapura District claimed seven lives, Senior Commissioner Ahmad Kamal, spokesman of the Papua Police, said in a statement quoted by Detik.com.
A total of 11,725 people were affected by the widespread flooding and landslide in Jayapura, particularly Sentani.
EDITED BY INE
Editor: Suharto
Floods cause severe damage to 351 homes in Sentani, Papua
Alfian Rumagit, Fardah Antara 19 Mar 19;
Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - Floods have caused serious damage to 351 homes, four bridges, four roads, and eight school buildings in Sentani Sub-district, Jayapura District, Papua Province.
Two churches and a mosque, eight drainage systems, 104 home-cum-shops, and a market were also seriously damaged by flooding that hit the sub-district on Saturday (March 16, 2019), Senior Commissioner A.M. Kamal, spokesman of the Papua Police, noted here, Tuesday.
Four cars and 30 motorbikes were also submerged by flooding, he added.
The extent of damage and death toll might increase, as rescuers continued to look for more casualties and collect data on material losses.
"A joint team, comprising military, police, and disaster response personnel, is still working hard at the locations affected by the floods," he remarked.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the flash flood that swept through several parts of Jayapura District in the easternmost Indonesian province of Papua rose to 61 as of Sunday evening.
The flash flood also injured 43 people, while 69 others were still missing, Kamal noted.
The injured were treated at several hospitals, including RSUD Yowari, RS Dian Harapan, and RS Bhayangkara.
The 69 missing residents included 34 from Milinik Village, 20 from the BTN Gajah Mada housing complex, seven from the Inauli housing complex, four from Bambar Village, and two from the BTN Bintang Timur housing complex.
Kamal remarked that some one thousand people have evacuated to higher ground following the flash flood.
"We have put up tents for the evacuees in several areas considered safe," he added.
EDITED BY INE
Editor: Suharto
