The Yogyakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has warned residents living along the riverbanks to remain alert for potential disasters during the rainy season, including landslides.

“All areas along the river are areas that are prone to disasters during the rainy season, such as landslides to floods. For this reason, vigilance needs to continue to be practiced, so that it can reduce disaster risk,” the agency’s head, Nur Hidayat, said in Yogyakarta on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the agency reported a large landslide along the Gajah Wong River. The landslide struck Muja Muju Village after heavy rains, Hidayat said.

Some other places were also affected by the landslide, including the area under the Winong Bridge in the Gajah Wong River and in Serangan on the Winongo River, the agency said.

The agency has assessed and reported the damage suffered by those areas to the Yogyakarta Department of Public Works, Housing, and Settlement Areas (DPUPKP), Hidayat informed.

“We have also mapped the risk of disaster in riverbank areas,” he said.

The Yogyakarta Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency has collected data pertaining to the number of residents living on riverbanks and mapped evacuation routes and evacuation points in case a disaster occurs, he elaborated.

“So, there is already mitigation that we hope can help the community to take quick steps in the event of a disaster,” he added.

The presence of Disaster Resilient Villages (KTB), spread over 130 villages in Yogyakarta city, is expected to help in the initial handling in the event of a disaster, Hidayat pointed out.

“We have provided simulations and training on disaster management for KTBs. Disaster mitigation equipment have also been provided, such as chainsaws, water pumps, communication devices, and others,” he revealed.

He reminded all Disaster Resilient Villages to re-check their disaster mitigation equipment and facilities to make sure they were in good condition and ready to be used at any time.

Source: Antara News