TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - At least 440 houses in Jember Regency, East Java were inundated following flash floods that hit the area on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 9. The floods affected 1,668 residents.

Jember Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Secretary, Heru Widagdo, said Kaliwates and Rambipuji sub-districts were flooded. Meanwhile in Panti sub-district, two people were carried away by the heavy river current in Kemiri Village, and one person died in Suci Village.

“In Panci sub-district, two people were carried away by a fairly heavy river current in Kemiri Village due to high rainfall. They were Sirat (50) and his wife Suliha (47) who have not been found yet, while one victim named Jamaludin (54), a resident of Suci Village, died in the cold,” said Heru.

He explained the floods occurred due to heavy rains that led to overflowing Semangir River. “Semangir River cannot accommodate the water discharge so it overflows into residential areas with water levels of 100-130 centimeters carrying mud material,” he said.

According to him, the flood had begun to recede on Sunday. BPBD officials along with members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and National Police (Polri) would help clean the residents’ houses and public facilities affected by the flood on Monday morning.

“[We also open up] public kitchens in the Kaliwates District Office to supply food for residents affected by flash floods,” said Heru.

Read: Flash Floods in West Kalimantan Districts Kill 2

ANTARA