Indonesia – Floods and Landslides Leave 12 Dead, Thousands Affected

Over the last few days the provinces of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and Banten in Indonesia have been affected by heavy rain which has caused severe flooding and deadly landslides.

Indonesia’s disaster management agency says February 2017 will mark the peak of the country’s rainy season.

Bali Province

At least 12 people have died in landslides in the province of Bali over the last few days. Heavy rain that began on 08 February triggered several landslides in Kintamani.

According to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority, BNPB, 145 mm of rain fell in 24 hours on 08 February. Further heavy rain fell during the evening of 09 February, triggering a landslide in Songan Village, Kintamani, where 5 houses were buried leaving 7 people dead and 4 injured.

On 10 February, 4 people died and after a house was buried by a landslide in Awan Village. The following day (11 February) a landslide in Sukawana Village left one dead and one injured.

BNPB says that local disaster officials, along with police and volunteers helped carry out emergency evacuations.

West Nusa Tenggara Province

Elsewhere in southern parts of the country, over 40,000 people have been affected by flooding in the neighbouring province of West Nusa Tenggara.

Parts of the province saw 5 days of continuous heavy rain between 06 and 11 February. BNPB reported that 40,291 people were affected by flooding in Sumbawa Regency, where the areas of Labuan Badas, Empang, Terano, Sumbawa, and Unter Iwes were badly hit.

Banten Province

Further west, heavy rain has affected parts of Banten Province, Java Island, where rivers have overflowed causing flooding in Lebak and Pandeglang Regencies. Both areas are known to be prone to flooding.

In Lebak, the Ciliman River and its tributaries, Cisimeut, Cimadur and Cibinuangeun, have all overflowed on 09 February, affecting 14 sub-districts and damaging 1,561 houses. The sub-district of Banjarsari was the worst affected areas include Banjarsari, Cijaku and Leuwidamar where flood water was up to 1.5 metres deep in some areas.

Flooding in Pandeglang Regency damaged 3,671 houses and affected 9,611 people, according to BNPB. In total, 13 districts of the regency have been affected. One of the worst hit areas if the district of Sobang where 3 houses were destroyed by floods and landslides. In some areas flood water was 2 metres deep. Over 250 people have been evacuated.