Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Deputy Minister John Wempi Wetipo visited Jayapura City to take prompt actions in handling the post-flood impacts, such as by deploying heavy equipment to clean the drifted garbage.
“The equipment deployed from our centers in Jayapura City comprise 12 dump trucks, three mini excavators, and two large excavators,” the ministry’s spokesperson, Endra S. Atmawidjaja, noted in a written statement here on Monday.
In addition, he remarked that the police had sent three large excavators and a loader, while the Jayapura District Environment Office had lent two dump trucks.
Atmawidjaja remarked that in terms of the short-term handling efforts, the ministry was currently studying the Siborgonyi, Acai, and Makanoay rivers to conduct normalization.
“River normalization must be conducted, as according to our team’s evaluation, one of the causes of the disaster is river sedimentation and garbage blocking the watershed. Thus, the heavy rain causes the river to overflow,” he remarked.
Furthermore, several roads impacted by floods have been cleaned up to enable safe movement of vehicles.
Meanwhile, with regard to the long-term handling attempts, the expert staff stated that the ministry plans to establish several water conservation and flood control infrastructures.
“One of our proposals is the construction of a retention pond in the Organda Baru area, parapets on the Acay and Siborgonyi rivers, as well as a check dam in the upstream of Makanoay River,” he revealed.
During the visit, the deputy minister was accompanied by the ministry’s Director of Rivers and Beaches, Bob A. Lombogia, as well as Director of Operations and Management of Water Resources, Adenan Rasyid.
Floods hit several sub-districts in Jayapura City and its surroundings, comprising North Jayapura, South Jayapura, Abepura, Heram, and Muara Tami on January 7, 2022.
According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), in addition to flooding, the heavy rains also caused landslides.
The Papua Provincial Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) had noted that the disaster claimed seven lives and forced over one thousand residents to seek shelter.
Source: Antara News