4 Gov't Recommendations Following the Sentani Flash Flood
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20 March 2019 09:24 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Minister of Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya revealed two factors that helped cause the devastating flash floods in Sentani, Jayapura; high-intensity rainfall and damaged spatial planning caused by deforestation.
The Sentani flash flood affected North Jayapura, South Jayapura, Abepura, Heram, Sentani, with a catchment area (DTA) of 15,199.83 hectares.
The high-intensity rainfall in the area lasted 7-hours from 17:00 up to 12:00 local time. This extreme weather contributed to the high water flow discharge.
Read also: PLN Restores Power in Jayapura in Sentani Flood Aftermath
“And then the landslide happened [which was] caused by the natural process in Sentani`s eastern parts where a natural dam formed and was damaged in the extreme rainfall,” she said in a written statement on Tuesday.
The Environment and Forestry Ministry revealed that there were settlements and farms as wide as 2,415 hectares within the DTA.
She announced the ministry’s recommendation to re-establish the forest area’s function through intensive forest rehabilitation within DTA areas, improve the area’s spatial planning based on an updated disaster risk assessment, internalize land rehabilitation, and push for land and water conservation program in settlements and agricultural lands.
IRSYAN HASYIM
