Jakarta Globe, Ari Susanto, January 21, 2014
Smoke rises from Mount Merapi on Dec. 15. (JG Photo/Boy T. Harjanto) |
Yogyakarta.
The Central Java Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency is on alert for a possible
overflow of the Bengawan Solo River and a flood of cold lava from the Mt.
Merapi volcano that could be triggered by heavy rain in the province.
“The brief
rains yesterday at the peak of Mt. Merapi has drowned four sand miners, while
water levels of the Bengawan Solo River are still under control,” the agency’s
head Sarwa Pramana said in Semarang on Sunday.
The sand
miners ignored the warnings issued by the Kepuharjo village head a month ago to
stay away from the mountain slope.
The village
head Heri Suprapto said the local administration had prohibited sand mining
activities in the river since a month ago. He added that several areas such as
the Sukoharjo, Karanganyar, Klaten, and Cepu districts would be inundated by
floods if the Bengawan Solo River burst its banks.
The
Kaliadem neighborhood was nearly covered in volcanic material after the 2010
eruption, which attracts many sand traders from Yogyakarta and Central Java
regions.
Sarwa said
factors that would cause the river to burst its banks, aside from heavy rain,
is poor management of water levels at the Wonogiri Dam.
“If one of
the water gates at the dam is opened, it would impact areas along the course of
the Bengawan Solo River,” he said.
Sarwa said
the disaster mitigation agency has asked all parties to anticipate the four-year
flood cycle.
“Hopefully
an eruptions like the one in 2010 will not happen again, but to anticipate it,
we have drafted a contingency plan by preparing volunteers, meeting points for
evacuees, evacuation locations and referral hospitals,” Sarwa said.
Herizal,
head of the Semarang Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, meanwhile
forecasted heavy rain for the province until the beginning of February.
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This picture taken on January 15, 2014 shows Indonesian
search and rescue members helping residents after a flood
hit Manado, the capital city of the North Sulawesi province of
Indonesia. (AFP Photo)
|
Related Articles:
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Jakarta on Official Alert as Flood Misery Returns
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