JAKARTA (JP): The government warned residents, especially
those living in mountainous areas and near rivers, to remain
alert as more landslides and floods can be expected in the next
three months because of heavy rain.
"The government offers its condolences to families of
all victims killed and injured in recent landslides and floods
in Aceh, North and West Sumatra," Minister of Settlement
and Regional Infrastructure Erna Witoelar said here on Monday.
"People living in areas prone to natural disaster should
stay alert of similar incidents due to predictions of heavy
downpours in the next three months," she added.
She warned that many critical areas in the main islands of
Java, Sumatra,Kalimantan and Sulawesi were prone to these
natural disasters due to uncontrolled forest cutting.
"Sides should not blame each other for the incidents,
it's better for us to take preventive actions to avoid such
disasters in the future, or to evacuate people living in areas
prone to landslides and floods," she said.
She said the government had issued several warnings before
the disasters occurred but received little serious attention.
The minister called on subdistrict administrations to take
preventive action and disseminate information on the potential
for disasters in their areas.
"Subdistrict administrations should also strengthen
coordination with local security authorities to call on forest
concessionaire holders and forest squatters to stop cutting
forests and to help preserve water catchment areas," she
said.
She called on subdistrict administrations and security
authorities to evacuate people living in areas prone to
landslide and flash floods.
Asked about the floods and landslides in Sumatra that
occurred over the weekend, Erna said the central government was
in close coordination with provincial administrations to take
necessary action to tackle the disasters.
"Besides dispatching food relief, the government along
with the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) has
coordinated with provincial and subdistrict administrations to
search for the dead and provide medical and other humanitarian
assistance for injured victims and refugees," she said.
She added that the government would also help repair
infrastructure, suchas roads and bridges, damaged in the
disasters.
"This is important to break the isolation," she
said, explaining that landslides and floods in Banda Aceh and
Padang, West Sumatra, have isolatedthe two provincial capitals.
Meanwhile, a number of legislators called on the House and
the governmentto provide serious attention to handle the natural
disasters plaguing Aceh,North and West Sumatra.
Aisyah Amini, a member of the United Development Party (PPP)
faction, said in a House of Representatives plenary session
which Erna also attended, that the government and the House
would be under fire if no emergency assistance was dispatched.
Rusdi Zein, a member of the Golkar Party, concurred and
warned that emergency relief was needed, especially on the eve
of the Christmas and Idul Fitri holidays.
Southern Java
Meanwhile, Dwikorita Karnawati, a geologist from the
Yogyakarta-based Gadjahmada University, warned railway companies
and bus operators against possible landslides along the southern
part of Java during the rainy season.
"The Sawunggaling train crash last Friday near
the town of Purwokerto, inCentral Java, was an early warning for
us to be cautious of more landslidesduring the rainy
season," he said in Yogyakarta on Monday.
Dwikorita pointed out that the southern part of Java has many
roads and railways built on land that is susceptible to
landslides.
According to him, besides improved monitoring, the local
administration should build a better drainage system to avoid
floods and landslides duringthe rainy season. (rms)
