Indonesia's Bandung declares flood emergency until Jan 20

BANDUNG, West Java, Jan 15 (Bernama-Antara): The Bandung district government, West Java, has declared an emergency response status from January 13 to January 20, 2024, requiring all parties to remain alert for flood risk during the rainy season, reported ANTARA news agency.

"The emergency response status on the flood disaster has been established since three days ago. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has prepared public kitchens and so on," head of Bandung district, Dadang Supriatna, said here on Monday.

He informed that the emergency status will be in place for seven days and may be extended or shortened depending on the situation in the field.

"The determination of disaster emergency response status can be extended or shortened in accordance with the provisions of laws and regulations," he said.

According to him, the determination of the emergency status is a measure to handle floods and other hydrometeorological disasters that have impacted the area since January 11, 2024.

"We must pay attention to the basic needs of the community during the current emergency handling status," he added.

Supriatna emphasised that his side has followed up on the determination of the emergency status by implementing several measures against the potential recurrence of floods in the district.

"Post-disaster, we will follow up from the upstream to downstream (sectors), but I strongly agree that the handling is not partial but comprehensive," he said.

Meanwhile, the chief of BNPB, Suharyanto, said that his side has provided assistance of Rp350 million to support the handling of floods in Bandung district.

He added the funds could be used for providing food, building public bathing and toilets, and fulfilling other basic needs of affected communities.- Bernama-Antara