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Indonesia

Indonesia - Landslides OCHA Situation Report No. 2

Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2003/0030
OCHA Situation Report No. 2
Indonesia - Landslides
04 February 2003
occurred: 28 January 2003

This report is based on information provided by the OCHA Office in Indonesia, the IFRC, and the media.

I. SITUATION AND DAMAGE

1. On 31 January 2003, the District Government of Garut, West Java addressed an official report to the Minister of Social Affairs and to the National Coordination Board for the Management of Disasters and IDPs (BAKORNAS), stating that the time of occurrence of the landslides in Garut was 10 p.m. local time on 28 January 2003. The report mentioned that three villages in Kadungora Sub-District, namely, Nenggeng, Budi Anten and Bojong Jambu had been affected. Bojong Jambu village was the worst affected. As of 4 February 2003, rain continues to fall. Records of the Bandung-based Directorate General for Geology and Mitigation of Natural Disasters indicate that West Java is Indonesia's most vulnerable province to landslides.

2. The landslides have killed 20 people and injured another 74. One person is still missing. In the three villages affected, a total of 85 houses, two mosques and two schools have reportedly been destroyed and another 100 homes damaged. In addition, 200 other houses in areas prone to landslides are at risk. About 263 families (1,686 people) are displaced and have been provided with temporary shelter in 5 evacuation posts. Two of the larger evacuation posts are hosting 700 displaced people.

3. About 95 hectares of farmland and plantation ground have reportedly been ruined, with 5,150 livestock missing.

4. Roads and destroyed homes have not been repaired as yet as the area is still covered by thick mud. The head of the Garut District reported that the likelihood of homes being repaired in the same location is low, and that there will be a need to relocate the victims to safer areas.

5. On 28 January 2003, in Cilacap District, Central Java, flash floods killed one person and displaced thousands of others, and inundated at least 3,000 houses in 20 villages.

6. On 31 January 2003, another landslide, triggered by heavy rain, struckthe village of Cantilan in West Java's Kuningan District, 200 kilometres east of Jakarta. Rescue workers, comprising military and police officers working together with local residents, recovered the bodies of 10 villagers who were buried alive when an avalanche of mud and rock covered their houses. The landslide, carrying mud from Mont Jaga, destroyed 4 houses, cut the power supply to the village and cut off the road connecting Kuningan, Selajambe and Subang. To prevent further casualties, about 43 families living in landslide prone areas were moved to safer locations. With weather experts forecasting more heavy rains in the coming weeks, the area remains vulnerable to further landslides and floods.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

7. Further to the eruption of Mont Papandayan volcano in November 2002, the Head of Garut District issued a decree on 23 January 2003 clarifying the structure and status of the Operational Unit for the Management of Disasters and IDPs in Garut (SATLAK), outlining the roles and responsibilities assigned to the different offices at the district level.

8. The SATLAK in Garut District continues to work in collaboration with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) Garut Chapter, Search and Rescue workers, and the local police to evacuate and accommodate the displaced. As the risk of further landslides persists, residents are requested to be on guard and to join the evacuation posts. If necessary, the local authorities will designate at least two more evacuation posts.

9. Most of the need for temporary shelter materials, food, medicine, kitchen and cooking utensils, and other relief items is being met by voluntary organisations and the surrounding communities of West Java. PMI brought in assistance from their headquarters consisting of 500 hygiene kits, 450 boxes of instant food, and 200 boxes of water. PMI reported a shortage of clean water.

10. PMI has returned from an assessment reporting the spread of diseases such as upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), rashes, and diarrhea in the evacuation posts. Medical teams of both the District Health Office and the PMI Bandung Chapter are on standby. In the near future, PMI plans to make a survey of further needs in the area for development and mitigation purposes.

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE

11. No official Government request for international assistance has been received. No external assistance has been reported to OCHA so far.

12. This is the last report for this disaster unless there are unforeseen developments.

13. This situation report, together with further information on ongoing emergencies, is available on the OCHA Internet Website at http://www.reliefweb.int

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Direct Tel. +41-22-917 31 31/17 69

Press contact:
(GVA) - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
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