NTT Lembata Regent Declares Emergency Status for Flash Floods

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Regent of Lembata in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), Eliaser Yentji Sunur, declared a disaster emergency response following flash floods, landslides, and tidal waves in the region starting from April 4 to 17, 2021.

The status determination is noted in the Lembata Regent Decree No. 326 dated April 5, 2021. “As an effort to deal with the flash floods in Lembata Regency, caused by tidal waves that occurred on April 2 to 5 that was accompanied by high-intensity rain,” said the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Head of the Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Raditya Jati, in his statement on Tuesday, April 6.

Six districts were affected by the high tidal wave, namely Ile Ape, East Ile Ape, Lebatukan, Omesuri, Buyasuri, and Wulandoni.

Raditya hoped that the state of emergency could accelerate the economic recovery and stability and smooth the transportation in affected areas for the community.

Based on data from the BNPB Operation Center (Pusdalops), six evacuation sites are open for evacuees, including SMP Sabar Subur Betun, SDK Betun 1 and 2, SDI Wemalae Betun, SDI Bakateu, and SDI Kletek.

“There is also a main post located in the hall of the Regent's Office and the other one post at the Waipukang Community Health Center,” Raditya added.

The latest data compiled as of 21:00 Tuesday recorded that the flash flood disaster had killed 28 people, injured 98 people, and displaced 958 people. Meanwhile, 44 people went missing. The BNPB also reported that 75 houses were lightly damaged, 15 houses were moderately damaged, and 224 units were severely damaged.

Read: Jokowi: Extreme Weather Hampers Aid Distribution for Flash Floods Victims

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