T

he central government denied allegations it was late in responding to the flash flood that struck Wasior, West Papua, on Monday morning.

The death toll has reached 124 on Saturday, with another 123 people still missing, Antara news agency reported.

The government wanted to correct misleading allegations that it did not care about the victims of the Wasior flood, Leo Nababan, a spokesman for the Coordinating Public Welfare Minister’s Office, said Saturday, adding that National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) chief Syamsul Ma’arif arrived at the site the very next day to deliver relief aid by helicopter.

“There are wrong perceptions of the agency, which some people thought was not part of the central government. This is wrong. Only a minister could represent the central government,” Leo said, adding that Coordinating Public Welfare Minister Agung Laksono and Social Services Minister Salim Segaf Al Jufri visited the site on Saturday to assist relief efforts and speak to flood victims.

“President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will come here soon,” Agung told reporters in Manokwari, but did not say when the President would arrive to meet with victims and inspect the damage firsthand in Teluk Wondama, which remains covered by stones, logs and mud.

More heavy equipment will be needed to help locate missing victims and rebuild the city, Agung said.

The disaster initially crippled activity in Wasior, paralyzing the city’s airstrip and leaving sea channels as the only available option for distribution of incoming aid and relief supplies.

“The airport there has been reopened, which will assist the speed of relief efforts,” presidential special staffer Velix Wanggai said.

Velix, however, denied that the disaster was caused by illegal logging. “This was purely a natural disaster. I have been there and have observed that it was caused by extreme weather and heavy downpours. Local residents also told me that the recent weather had been unusually extreme,” Velix said Saturday.

“We knew that Wasior was vulnerable to this type of disaster, and we have to be better prepared for similar circumstances,” he said.