JAKARTA: Aceh has declared a state of emergency following widespread flooding across the province, with authorities attributing the worsening situation to incomplete recovery efforts after last year's devastating northern Sumatra floods.
Aceh Governor Muzakir Manaf, said the emergency status would take effect from Nov. 11, through Jan. 31, next year as part of efforts to strengthen the provincial administration's preparedness for potential floods and other weather-related disasters.
"The declaration is part of the Aceh administration's efforts to anticipate disaster risks and ensure a swift response when an emergency occurs," he said in a statement on Thursday (Nov 12). Muzakir said he had instructed local authorities across Aceh to monitor conditions in their respective areas around the clock and immediately report any problems.
He also called for closer coordination among government ministries and agencies to ensure a swift and coordinated disaster response. “I have instructed all agencies to place personnel on standby for immediate deployment in the event of a disaster, particularly in at-risk areas,” Muzakir said.
Torrential rain has triggered floods and landslides in several regencies across Aceh in the past week, including Pidie Jaya, Langkat, Central Aceh and Gayo Lues. The flooding has damaged dozens of homes, public buildings and agricultural areas, as well as infrastructure built in the aftermath of last year's devastating floods.
Cyclone Senyar struck northern Sumatra on Nov. 25 last year, unleashing torrential rain and strong winds that triggered widespread flooding and landslides across Aceh, North Sumatra and West Sumatra.
The disaster affected at least 3.1 million people, killing 1,204, injuring around 7,000 and leaving 140 missing, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Home Minister Tito Karnavian attributed the flooding in Aceh partly to sediment buildup in rivers following last year's disaster, which has reduced their capacity to carry water.
“Even relatively light rain could trigger flooding”, he said on Monday. “At least 41 subsequent flooding incidents were recorded across the three provinces between April and October this year.”
Tito said the government was accelerating river normalisation work in areas affected by last year's disaster to restore their capacity to carry water. Of the 137 rivers affected by Cyclone Senyar, restoration work has been completed in 55, 15 in Aceh, 28 in North Sumatra and 12 in West Sumatra. Work on the remaining 82 rivers is either underway or has yet to begin, he said.
Firman Banurea, a resident of Aceh Tamiang regency, said news of Aceh's disaster emergency declaration had left him anxious, bringing back painful memories of the flash floods and landslides that devastated the region last year.
The father of two said he was still traumatised by the disaster and feared his family could once again be affected. "When I heard that Aceh had declared a disaster emergency, my heart started racing as I remembered what happened last year. I hope the province is spared another disaster like that this year," Firman said on Thursday.
Firman still lives in his flood-damaged home in Kebun Tanah Terban village, Karang Baru district. Fearing another flood, he has sent his wife and children to stay with relatives in the nearby city of Langsa.
"My wife and children are staying at a relative's house in Langsa. I'm afraid they could be hit by flooding again if they stay here," he said. Although he felt there was little he could do to prevent another disaster, Firman urged the government to step up preparations for potential floods and landslides to prevent further casualties.
"I can only pray that floods and landslides like last year's will not happen again. The government should take steps to prevent such disasters," he said. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
