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Ministry warns of landslide-prone areas
Adianto P. Simamora , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Fri, 10/03/2008 11:34 AM | National
The government has warned holidaymakers and the public to stay alert to the possibility of landslides in certain areas in West Java and North Sumatra provinces.
The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry's Volcanology and Mitigation of Geological Disasters Unit said Thursday the two provinces would be the most vulnerable to landslides this October.
"Landslides usually occur when rainfall intensity rises. Higher intensity rains are expected to start in October," Estu Kriswati of the unit told The Jakarta Post.
She said reports of potential landslides had been distributed to local administrations to allow them to take preventive measures to minimize the danger.
On Wednesday, the first day of the Idul Fitri holidays, heavy rains hit several provinces, including Jakarta and West Java. More than 15 million people have left the capital and other big cities for the annual exodus known as mudik.
Data from the volcanology unit shows there are 918 areas vulnerable to landslides across the country, 276 of which are in West Java.
The report listed 28 areas in West Java categorized as the most prone to landslides, including Garut, Cianjur, Purwakarta, Subang and Tasikmalaya regencies. The report also said nine subdistricts in Cianjur, including Kadupandak Cibinong, Sukaresmi, Cidaun and Tanggeung, were at high risk.
"In other parts of West Java, landslides may occur if rainfall intensity exceeds normal levels," Estu said.
Between 2003 and 2005, 166 people died in 77 landslides, while 2,000 houses and 140 hectares of rice fields were destroyed.
In North Sumatra, areas at risk include South Tapanuli, North Tapanuli and Sibolga, while in Central Java, Cilacap regency is the most vulnerable to landslides.
Estu said the long dry season had caused massive moisture evaporation from the land, leading to easily triggered landslides when rainwater infiltrates the cracked topsoil.
The volcanology unit said landslides have cost the country an estimated Rp 800 billion (US$85.1 million) in financial losses annually.
The environment ministry has long warned Java island would still be vulnerable to natural disasters, especially landslides and floods, because of gross violations of land-use permits and the island's rapid population growth.
A study by the ministry in 2007 showed 603 subdistricts in East Java, 513 in Central Java and 430 in West Java were all highly vulnerable to landslides.
