4 die in Balikpapan landslide

The Jakarta Post, Balikpapan, East Kalimantan Thu, 05/24/2012


At least four died in a landslide in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, that occurred early on Thursday.

Heavy rains in the city caused massive floods, the most severe reaching a depth of 2 meters in Damai subdistrict, inundating hundreds of houses.

The flood also caused a landslide that buried a house on Jl. R.E. Martadinata with seven people were inside.

Four occupants, identified as Fikrian, 11, Jaki, 8, Bella, 6, and Siti Hajar, 30, died as a result.

Balikpapan Search and Rescue Agency head Harmoniada said his agency received information about the people who were buried in the landslide at 11 a.m. local time (10 a.m. Jakarta time).

“We have done the evacuation. Three people survived and four died,” he said.

He said another landslide occurred at KM 5 on the Balikpapan-Samarinda route, but without any injuries.

According to Harmoniada, the floods were reported at 4 p.m. local time in 10 flood-prone areas including Timur village in Gunung Samarinda subdistrict, Jl. M.T. Haryono, Simpang 5 Rapak, Gunung Sari, Sepinggan, Balikpapan Baru, Jl. A. Yani, Gunung Guntur, Gunung Pasir, Batakan and Damai subdistrict, which is the hardest hit.

“Balikpapan is severely inundated. Activities are paralyzed, including those in the Sepinggan area near the Navy housing complex,” he said.

“We hope the water will recede soon after the rain stops.”