Floods, landslides kill eight in Ambon

The Jakarta Post, Ambon Wed, August 01 2012,


The Maluku Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported on Wednesday that eight people were killed while three were missing by the floods and landslides that have struck Ambon, Maluku, since Tuesday evening.

However, the BPBD has yet to identify the victims.

The floods hit Galala, Lateri, Passo, Laha, Tawiri and South Leitimur, while landslides struck areas in Batu Gajah, Mangga Dua, Karang Panjang, Batu Merah, Kebun Cengkeh, Ahuru and some others.

The floods and landslides badly damaged several main roads and 39 houses. The floods also inundated 1,785 buildings.

The BPBD reported that the severe flooding had forced rescue teams to evacuate 599 people from their homes using ropes. The BPBD coordinated with related state agencies and search and rescue (SAR) teams in the evacuation process.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the BPBD was still calculating the material losses caused by the natural disasters.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has announced that several areas in Indonesia, including Central Kalimantan, North Maluku, West Papua and Central Sulawesi, will be hit by torrential rains this week.

The BMKG also says that 3-meter to 5-meter tidal waves will hit the waters of Sangihe Talaud Islands, southern Ambon and Tanimbar in Maluku, the southern part of North Sulawesi and the seas of Maluku, Banda, Arafuru and the South China.

Death Toll in Maluku Floods, Landslides Reaches 11

The Jakarta Globe, August 02, 2012


The death toll from floods and landslides that swept through portions of the Maluku capital of Ambon on Wednesday has reached 11, officials said on Thursday.

Ibrahim Sangadji, an official with the Maluku office of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), said 10 people died in Ambon, while another victim died in a village near the capital.

“Including the victim in Tengah-Tangah, the death toll is 11,” Ibrahim said in Ambon on Thursday, as quoted by Indonesian news portal kompas.com.

He added that five other people were still missing, and that a rescue team had been dispatched to search for them.

BNPB branch office head Boy Cokro said on Wednesday that 2,000 people in Ambon had been displaced after torrential rains brought floods and landslides. The subdistricts of Sirimau and Baguala — which are closest to the river — reportedly suffered the most damage.

Displaced residents sought shelter in relatives' homes and in school and government offices, Boy said