A severe rainstorm in Bengkulu over the weekend has caused floods and landslides across the province, claiming the lives of at least 15 people and displacing thousands of others.

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said on Sunday the rainstorm had occurred from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning. The disaster struck in at least nine cities and regencies across the province, including Bengkulu city as well as Central Bengkulu and Rejang Lebong regencies.

Bengkulu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Rusdi Bakar said the number of recorded casualties had increased to 15 as of Sunday afternoon.

“Most of the victims were residents of Central Bengkulu regency [with 10 people from the regency dying in the disaster],” Rusdi said on Sunday, as quoted by Antara.

Sutopo said at least eight people were reportedly missing as of Sunday morning, while roughly 12,000 others had been displaced due to the disaster.

The floods and landslides also damaged 184 houses, four schools as well as roads and bridges in the nine cities and regencies.

“The impact of the disaster will be further assessed as not all the affected areas have been reached,” Sutopo said.

The extreme weather also caused one of the most popular lakes in the province, Dendam Tak Sudah Lake, to overflow and inundate roads around it. Local resident Agus said it was an uncommon occurrence despite frequent flooding in Bengkulu city.

“We asked the local transportation agency to close the road due to the flooding, in order to prevent the embankment around the lake from breaking down,” Agus said, as quoted by Antara.

While the flooding has receded in several areas, rescuers could not reach some affected areas due to damaged roads and bridges. However, Sutopo said the authorities were working to reach those affected.

The BNPB has deployed a fast response team to assist the local disaster mitigation agency in helping victims. “[The BNPB] has also set aside ready-to-use funds for emergency management,” said Sutopo.

The funds will be used — among other things — to repair damaged roads and to distribute aid. Among the items that are urgently needed are tents, inflatable boats, blankets, food, clean water and emergency lights. Volunteers are also needed.

Those affected were told to stay alert as there was potential for high intensity rain in the region.

The Genesis Bengkulu Foundation’s director, Uli Arta Siagian, said this was one of the largest and worst floods ever to hit the province. She said rampant exploitation of land in the form of plantations and mining in several water catchment areas in the province had contributed to the disaster.

“One thing must be done to prevent worse disasters from happening in the province, and that is to stop issuing permits for large-scale mining and plantation in important areas, such as the forest area the along Bukit Barisan mountain,” Uli said.

“If deforestation increases, it is possible that worse floods and landslides will occur in the future.”

Similar disasters occurred in other parts of the second-largest island in the archipelago. Sutopo wrote on his Twitter account, @Sutopo_PN, a landslide occurred in Pesisir Barat regency in Lampung. The disaster had cut off a road connecting the regency and neighboring province of Bengkulu. At least six people died in the disaster.

Popular

BI governor announces policy shift as rupiah slides

Deconstructing conflict in Papua: A land beyond vacancy

Indonesia starts ASEAN-S. Korea methane mitigation program