TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The regional government has set an emergency status following the flood and landslide that hit Lumajang Regency, East Java, on Friday, July 7.

”This is one of the efforts to accelerate emergency response in affected locations,” said the head of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency's (BNPB) Center of disaster data, information, and Communication, Abdul Muhari, in a statement on Saturday, July 8.

According to data from BNPB's Operations Control Center as of Saturday at 08:00 local time, six bridges were broken due to the flood of cold lava runoff from Mount Semeru. The flood also forced 571 people to relocate to 13 evacuation posts.

Meanwhile, the disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) of Lumajang Regency together with the joint team has also succeeded in opening road access at KM 59 on the zero picket line of Lumajang-Malang, by deploying heavy equipment. The road is now accessible.

"This noon, we managed to open the road access that has been completely closed due to landslides, now two-wheeled and four-wheeled vehicles can pass [the road] again," said Patria, Chief Executive of BPBD Lumajang Regency via a phone call.

Referring to the weather forecast, BMKG Class I Juanda Sidoarjo released an alert for extreme weather due to atmospheric disturbances in the East Java region on 7-13 July 2023. This increases the potential for extreme weather in the Blitar area, Malang Regency, Malang City, Lumajang, Tulungagung, Blitar, Banyuwangi , Jember, Kediri, Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Batu, Trenggalek, Jombang, Nganjuk, and Ponorogo.

BNPB also appealed to increase preparedness and vigilance to anticipate potential hydrometeorological disasters. Meanwhile, long-term vegetation-based mitigation is needed by planting plants such as vetiver to bind the soil structure and anticipate the threat of landslides.

Maria Fransisca Lahur

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