Residents repair the roof of a house damaged by strong winds in Sidokepung village, Sidoarjo, East Java, on Oct. 24. - Antara
JAKARTA (The Jakarta Post/Asia News Network): Heavy rains and strong winds that hit on Monday (Oct 24) and Tuesday have left hundreds of homes damaged in Sidoarjo and Jember regencies in East Java.
Sidoarjo Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported on Wednesday that a total of 631 houses and 15 school buildings were damaged in four villages in Buduran and Sidoarjo districts. The numbers are expected to rise. “Our field workers continue to survey and record data on the damages,” agency chief Djiwo Prawito told reporters.
Sidoarjo administration has set up disaster mitigation posts and soup kitchens, with utility workers working to amend electricity facilities.
The administration has received emergency beds, blankets and food supply aid worth a total of Rp 250 million (US$16,057) from East Java capital city of Surabaya.
In Jember, a connecting bridge was also cut off in Tanggul district, leaving around 300 families isolated. An access road to Gunung Pasang plantation in Panti district was also cut off by a landslide, while an elementary school building in Rambipuji district collapsed in the bad weather; no casualty was reported.
Andhika N Sudigda, an official with the East Java provincial BPBD, said the administration continues to raise awareness among and prepare residents, but admitted that such efforts need to be boosted.
According to administration data, there are 2,742 disaster-prone villages in East Java.
