TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Deputy Governor Josef Nae Soi confirmed that a new piece of land was formed and emerged on the waters of Rote Ndao in East Nusa Tenggara. The region was recently devastated by severe storms, floods, and landslides due to activities of tropical cyclone Seroja.

“We know that there certainly is one region, which is Rote Ndao Regency, where there is a plot of land that emerged to the sea surface. However, this must be studied first whether it is actually because of the recent natural disaster,” said the NTT deputy governor on April 14.

Josef announced this during his presentation on the region’s cyclone Seroja disaster mitigation where he mentioned the new piece of land that emerged was caused by receding sea water. However, he insisted that further scientific tests must be conducted to confirm it.

The deputy announced that the death toll caused by the natural disaster in East Nusa Tenggara reached 181 per April 14. This does not include those considered missing that reach 47 people.

Moreover, the disaster mitigation agency recorded 250 people injured and 49,512 people were relocated. He assured that nearly all of the previously isolated rural areas are currently accessible.

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ANTARA