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As rain intensifies, Surakarta on alert for disaster
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Inundated: Residents of Kampung Semanggi in Surakarta, Central Java, attempt to reach their houses to rescue valuable goods as flooding inundates their area. (JP/Ganug Nugroho Adi)
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even districts in Surakarta, Central Java, have declared an emergency alert status for flooding and landslides after high intensity rainfall in the area, which has caused the level of Bengawan Solo River to rise over the past week.
Surakarta Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) executive chairman Gatot Sutanto predicted that we would see heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds until the end of February.
He said the agency had established three disaster emergency alert posts in three different locations.
“Uncertain weather and the continued rising water level of Bengawan Solo River have prompted us to declare a disaster emergency alert status. All areas across Central Java have also adjusted their alert levels to the current conditions,” Gatot said on Wednesday.
He said the three disaster emergency posts prepared by the Surakarta administration were located in Gading, Kotabarat and Pedaringan areas. The administration had also prepared logistics and personnel and mapped out locations for public kitchens and temporary shelters.
“A report from the Jurug observation post reveals that the water surface level of Bengawan Solo River has almost reached eight meters, up from the normal level of seven meters. This means we must stand guard,” said BPBD Sukoharjo Suprapto.
He said increases in Surakarta’s disaster vulnerability could be seen from extreme weather changes in the last two weeks. Both the duration and intensity of rainfall in the city had increased in the last several days.
“The alert status we declared will take effect starting from today [Wednesday] until the beginning of 2018, possibly until March,” said Suprapto. (ebf)
