TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Lani Jaya Regency in Papua was hit by hail and snow for the first ten days of July, said the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). The extreme weather had claimed seven lives – five children and two infants.
BNPB Head of Public Relations and Information Data Center of Sutopo Purwo Nugroho on Sunday, July 19, said due to the extreme weather, some parts of Papua have been hit by drought after snow hit several areas.
"Between 1 and 6 July, there was light hail, between 7 and 10 July, there was snowfall," said Sutopo.
The agency also reported that the snowfall covered potato plants and once the snow melted, potato foliage dried up and the tubers became poisonous and was not edible.
"Tubers and garden produce could not be consumed. Cold weather has also killed livestock and made several residents ill,” he added.
Three regencies that were hit by the snow were Nduga regency, Puncak regency, and Lani Jaya regency, covering 21 villages in 6 districts and 20,160 households.
SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID | NATALIA SANTI