Jember Hit by Floods, Landslides; Hundreds of Residents Evacuated

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Hundreds of people were evacuated on Thursday night, November 18, after two sub-districts in Jember Regency, East Java, were hit by floods and landslides.

Based on data from the Jember Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), 79 houses of 300 residents and three public facilities were affected by the flood. However, they have returned to their homes today.

“There are three areas hit by floods and landslides in Bangsalsari and Tanggul sub-districts,” said Jember BPBD Secretary Heru Widagdo on Friday, November 19.

The two areas were Bangsalsari Village of Bangsalsari Sub-district and Klatakan Village of Tanggul District. In Bangsalsari, 20 houses were inundated by floodwater at a height of almost one meter and the ten-meter-long walls of the MHI Islamic Boarding School collapsed, so that students were evacuated to a safe place.

Meanwhile in Klatakan Village, 59 houses and one place of worship were flooded at a water level of about 20-80 cm. Seven people from vulnerable groups of toddlers and the elderly were evacuated.

Additionally, landslides also hit Banjarsari Village, Bangsalsari Sub-district which resulted in the closure of the 35-meter road. The assessment process was still being carried out by volunteers from the Jember BPBD Rapid Response Team.

“This morning, the flooding in several locations has begun to recede. The officers carry out the cleaning process and residents have returned to their homes,” said Heru.

Read: Flooding in Jember Displaces Hundreds of People

ANTARA