TEMPO.CO, Demak - President Joko Widodo or Jokowi stated that the Demak flooding was not only triggered by extreme rainfall but also by the degradation of upstream areas due to illicit deforestation and land-use conversion. He made the statement during his visit to the flood-stricken Demak Regency in Central Java today, March 22.

He highlighted that the rainfall in the region reached 238 millimeters per day, exceeding the threshold of extreme precipitation of 150 millimeters per day, which had caused the embankments to rupture. However, he contended that the disaster had also resulted from river sedimentation.

“Why did this happen? Because it wasn't mitigated from upstream. A lot of vegetation was cut down, and that’s the problem,” he said. “Logging, land conversion, these are the causes of the flooding."

He also said that the problem of illegal logging and land conversion is not unique to Indonesia. “All these problems stem from illegal logging and land conversion, which must be prevented,” Jokowi underlined.

The massive flooding has submerged most of Demak areas since Sunday, March 17. The Wulan River embankment on the border of Demak and Kudus could not withstand the flow of water and broke, paralyzing the northern coastal road or Pantura, submerging residents' houses and agricultural land, and displacing tens of thousands of inhabitants.

JAMAL ABDUN NASHR

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