Severe Flooding in Indonesia Forces Evacuations Amid Earthquake Aftermath
Flooding Crisis in Central Java
Photo: IANS
Jakarta, April 4: In a recent disaster in Demak regency, located in Central Java, Indonesia, approximately 3,000 individuals have been compelled to evacuate due to severe flooding, with one person reported missing, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
The flooding was instigated by intense rainfall in upstream regions, leading to increased water flow and the collapse of embankments in Dukuh Solowere and Dukuh Selodoko, which submerged adjacent residential areas.
As per Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the agency, a total of 1,070 households, affecting around 4,280 individuals, have been impacted. Out of these, 2,839 residents have been relocated to various shelters, while one individual remains unaccounted for.
A swift evaluation by the Demak Regional Disaster Management Agency revealed that eight villages across four districts have been affected by the flooding.
Emergency teams and local authorities have been actively evacuating residents, establishing temporary shelters, distributing sandbags to strengthen damaged embankments, and providing food and medical aid to those displaced. Efforts to locate the missing person are ongoing.
Additionally, on Thursday, a significant 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Maluku region in eastern Indonesia.
During the rescue operations following the earthquake, a woman was discovered deceased. The 70-year-old victim from Minahasa regency in North Sulawesi was killed by debris from a collapsing building, as reported by the local search and rescue team in Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) indicated that the earthquake occurred in waters southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, with strong tremors felt for 10 to 20 seconds in Bitung and nearby areas.
According to the BNPB, two aftershocks originating from the sea were also recorded, with initial assessments suggesting light to moderate damage in Ternate.
The tremors caused panic among residents, who hurriedly evacuated their homes. Social media showcased significant structural damage, including collapsed ceilings and distorted building frames.
The BNPB warned that the earthquake could potentially trigger a tsunami in North Maluku and North Sulawesi, issuing early alerts with "alert" and "caution" statuses.
However, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) later rescinded the tsunami warning after monitoring indicated no significant changes in sea levels.
Local authorities have been advising residents to evacuate, particularly those in coastal regions, urging them to avoid beaches and riverbanks while adhering to official guidance.