24 Villages in West Lombok on Emergency Drought Status

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The alert drought status in West Lombok Regency, West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) has risen to emergency status following the higher number of districts or villages hit by severe dryness.

“The status has been raised from alert to emergency,” said the head of drought disaster mitigation, Mohamad Najib, during a coordination meeting of West Lombok communication forum in the West Lombok Regent office, Tuesday, July 23.

The status hike resulted from the analysis of Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) I Kediri. According to the agency, central to southern areas of Lombok Island would suffer days without rain for 11 to 20 days, while the northern areas would be longer up to 31 to 60 days.

Najib, who is also the head of West Lombok Disaster Mitigation Agency, said his staffers had surveyed several villages prone to drought. “Agriculture lands in three districts will be affected. We fear they will face crop failure. Districts of Kuripan, Sekotong, and Lembar,” he added.

Villages in Sekotong District that have established drought emergency alert status are Sekotong Tengah, Kedaro, Sekotong Barat, Plangan, Cendi Manik, and Buwun Mas.

The agency also identified six drought-affected villages in Lembar District, namely Labuan Tereng, Sekotong Timur, Mareje Timur, Mareje Barat, Eyat Mayang and Jembatan Gantung.

Meanwhile in Gerung District, three villagers hit by the natural disaster are Banyu Urip, Giri Tembesi and Tempos.

Villages of Kuripan Timur, Kuripan Selatan, and Giri Sasak in Kuripan District have also established the emergency status. In addition, five villages in Batulayar District (Batulayar Induk, Batulayar Barat, Senggigi, Bengkaung, and Pusuk Lestari), and Bukit Tinggi village in Gunungsari District also hit by the dryness.

Najib appealed to the public to remain vigilant and aware of the drought impact, such as lack of clean water and potential land fire.

SUPRIYANTHO KHAFID