Indonesia: Papua flood death toll climbs to 79, 43 still missing

The Jakarta Post 18 Mar 19;

A seven-hour torrential downpour caused the flood, which has forced 4,728 residents to evacuate to six different emergency shelters. Meanwhile, the BNPB has estimated that 11,725 families have been affected by the flood.

The floodwaters also demolished around 350 houses and inundated 211 others, while public facilities were also torn apart by the disaster, according to BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

For the evacuees, the evacuation center set up by the Jayapura regent has provided medical treatment and a public kitchen. At least five hospitals have also offered to help the evacuees.

The Indonesian Environmental Forum has blamed deforestation in the Cyclops Mountains as the cause of the disaster. (mai)

Death toll in Jayapura flash flood increases to 61
Antara 17 Mar 19;

Some residents aboard a wooden boat went pass the flooded Youtefa market in Jayapura, Papua . (ANTARA FOTO/Gusti Tanati/2019)

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA) - The death toll from the flash flood that swept through several parts oif 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, spokesman for the Papua Provincial Police Senior Commissioner Ahmad Kamal said.

The injured are being treated at several hospitals including RSUD Yowari, RS Dian Harapan and RS Bhayangkara.

The 69 residents who are still missing include 34 from Milinik village, 20 from BTN Gajah Mada housing complex, seven from Inauli housing complex, four from Bambar village, and two from BTN Bintang Timur housing complex.

The flood also destroyed 350 houses, three bridges, eight school buildiings, two churches, one mosque, one market and 104 house-cum-shops and drainage system.

Kamal said some 1,000 people have evacuated to higher ground following the flash flood. "We have put up tents for the evacuees in several areas considered safe," he said.
Reporting by Evarukdijati, Suharto
Editor: Fardah Assegaf


Jayapura flash flood kills 50 people, evacuees in ‘urgent’ need of help
Victor Mambor The Jakarta Post 18 Mar 19;

As of Sunday afternoon, at least 50 people were reported killed and 273 families had been left homeless following a flash flood in Jayapura regency, Papua.

The flash flood occurred after heavy downpours in the area from Saturday afternoon to the early hours of Sunday.

Jayapura Regent Matius Awoitauw told The Jakarta Post on Sunday that the survivors were in “urgent need” of emergency aid such as food and medication and facilities for burying the dead.

Currently, 200 people are taking refuge at his residence while 1,400 others are sheltering in nearby schools. Dead bodies are being taken to hospitals in the region for identification purposes.

He added that the regional government was working with the National Police and the Indonesian Military to record and evacuate any other residents from the area while building public facilities for evacuees.

The Cendrawasih Military Command has set up a public kitchen that distributed 5,000 meals on Sunday at lunchtime.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), the flooding mostly struck the Sentani Kota district, affecting Sentani Kota, Hinekombe and Dobonsolo subdistricts and five villages, Kampung Sereh, Yoboy, Yahim, Yobeh and Ifar Besar. The regency administration also estimated that the flooding destroyed around 350 houses, 100 shophouses and two bridges.

Vehicles are seen immersed in mud after flooding in Sentani, Jayapura, Papua on Sunday. (Antara/Gusti Tanati)

BNPB spokesperson, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, said the flood had carried away several houses. He said he had seen nine houses being washed away.

Amateur videos and photos verified by BNPB show that the flood also carried away large trees and even a light aircraft.

The airplane belonging to Cendrawasih Air that was parked in a hangar in Doyo Baru. It was dragged several meters. A BNPB helicopter was also dragged several meters from its position by the flood.

The government has yet to estimate the total material losses caused by the disaster.

Indonesian Environmental Forum (Walhi) Papua head, Aiesh Rumbekwan, pointed to “massive” deforestation in a nearby mountainous area, known as the Cyclops, coupled with a large volume of water in Lake Sentani as contributory causes to the disaster.

“We can see this from the branches and trees that are floating. Those are not trees that have tumbled down in the rain, rather they are trees that have been cut down,” Aiesh said.

He said some parts of the mountain had been turned into residential areas.

The deforestation in the mountain area, Aiesh went on, had reduced the number of springs that usually flowed into Lake Sentani. He suspected that the overflowing of the lake occurred because of reclamation coupled with the dumping of garbage.

Meanwhile, resident Yance Wenda said that the recent flooding was “more frightening” than a similar deluge in 2007 as his house was inundated within a mere six hours.

“[The flood] brought down large rocks from the mountain. The torrent sounded like huge [ocean] waves,” said Yance, who has moved to a nearby church following the flood. (mai/evi)