JawaPos.com – A resident died after being affected by a flash flood that hit the Dinar Indah Housing Complex, Meteseh Village, Tembalang District, Semarang City, Friday (6/1). Head of the Emergency Division of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) for Semarang City Adhy Yulianto, the 60-year-old male victim was evacuated by the rescue team, but later his life could not be saved.
“Male, 60 years old. Found in his room. He was rescued but later died,” said Adhy in his statement, Sunday (8/1).
Adhy said, the flash floods that hit the Dinar Indah Housing Complex occurred due to the damage to the Pengkol River embankment, after it lost its ability to hold the rising water discharge due to heavy rainfall from the upstream area in Ungaran.
“The dike is broken because the Pengkol River overflows, water runoff from above. From Ungaran,” said Adhy.
Adhy added, the flood-affected residential areas are also basin areas that are often flooded. The phenomenon of flash floods had previously occurred at that location
“It’s a basin area. It’s been flooded,” said Adhy.
Currently the flood has receded and left behind debris, garbage and mud that was carried away by the current. The Semarang City BPBD team will coordinate with related elements and start repairing the damaged embankments tomorrow.
The Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari stated, the Semarang City BPBD team together with related forkopimda elements are currently continuing to carry out rapid studies and studies. Temporary data shows that 147 residents were affected by the floods.
“Several residents were evacuated and fled to a mosque which is located not far from housing and is safer,” said Muhari.
He revealed that extreme weather which is characterized by heavy rains and can be accompanied by winds still has the potential to occur in Semarang City until Sunday (8/1), according to weather forecast information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
Responding to this, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) appealed to all elements of local government and the community to be able to anticipate the potential for subsequent disasters.
Efforts such as monitoring river conditions, cleaning up trash and other materials that can clog water flows, monitoring the condition of embankments, roads and bridges to monitoring water discharge during heavy rains are recommended to be carried out periodically.
To increase preparedness for potential subsequent disasters, communities along the watershed are advised to carry out independent temporary evacuation if there is continuous, high-intensity rain for more than one hour.
“The community is also expected to always pay attention to the condition of river discharge and avoid river embankments and steep slopes with minimal vegetation,” he concluded.