The Jakarta Globe, January 6, 2014.
Torrential downpours that have showered Papua for days have seen at least five killed and several others injured while across Indonesia other cities are warning of potential problems and advising people to take precautions.
The incident occurred on Saturday following a landslide in Sentani Hawai district.
The landslide took place at an excavation site belonging to Conny Pallo, who has been questioned by the police.
“There are three people with injuries and they have been rushed to the Yowari Hospital for medical treatment,” said Papua Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Sulistyo Pudjo on Saturday. “Several eyewitnesses have been questioned about what happened.”
According to him, one of the injured, 22-year-old Yoas Taplo, sustained bruising on his left foot and his right eye, 24-year-old Fery Uopka sustained wounds on his head, left leg and foot, while another victim, 11-year-old Ahmad Khoirul, sustained injuries on his left leg.
Reports said the landslide also buried a number of houses trapping people inside.
Police have identified the bodies as Yance Monim, Fredi Monim and 5-year-old Dwi Junuardi.
Sulistyo said local search and rescue teams as well as the Sentani Kota district police immediately helped evacuate the victims to the Yowari hospital.
“Police have also set up a dedicated line to aid with the investigation,” he said.
A similar landslide occurred at the Wajib Senyum compound in South Jayapura on Tuesday, covering several houses in the area.
The tragedy resulted in the deaths of two pregnant women who were buried in the ruins.
Officials helping with the evacuation reportedly rushed the women to the Dr. Soedibjo Sarsdadi Marin Hospital immediately after they were found, but were pronounced dead on arrival.
This year’s rainy season has also become a cause for concern for residents living in Malang, East Java, who have been warned of floods and landslides.
According to M. Thoriq, chief of the housing and city planning for the city’s public works and building monitoring office, said six landslides occurred in Malang towards the end of 2013 and that the number would continue to rise with the recent weather conditions.
“Residential areas located near the Brantas River are especially prone to inundation,” Thoriq said on Sunday, as quoted by Tribunnews.com. “Riverside areas are crowded with houses and we are having a hard time organizing preventative measures.”
“We are calling on the public living in areas that are on the same level as rivers to be watchful in this kind of weather,” he added.
*
ma 6 jan 2014 - 4:20