The 32 foot-high dam of Situ Gintung, which was holding back around 70 million cubic feet of water at the Pesanggrahan river,
was built up to a century ago, under the Dutch colonial rule.
Little maintenance had been carried out on the dam since then, and many dams in Indonesia are in similar state.
The
collapse of the Situ Gintung was caused by the inability to accommodate more water on account of heavy rains which poured down in some districts in Banten and West Java provinces all night long on
Thursday, 26th March 2009.
The dam was first overflown and then burst out, because the foundation was not made of concrete.
Cracks had already been discovered at the bottom of
the embankment last February 2008. The administration had since prepared evacuation routes in case of flooding and also held a flood evacuation simulation exercise last year.
It was also
stated that the incidents of Situ Gintung was probably due to lack of routine inspections. Therefore, the Governor of Jakarta called for immediate inspections for all 26 dams in the capital.
The landslide occurred up on the highlands, bringing down debris such as mud and uprooted trees as
the flood washes up the affected areas.
The water level reached up to 1
meter high.
Heavy downpour had caused mudslides across several areas in the province, including East Agam,
Sawalunto, Salimpauang and Pasir Laweh.
Logs and large rocks that
were swept away by the flash floods contributed to the damage inflicted
on many buildings and public facilities.
The estimated economic lost affected by the disaster was Rp 75 billion
(US$ 6.5 million)
In 1997, the similar incident occurred in Tanah Datar, and had caused 21 persons dead.
Death 1
Inpatient 2
Outpatient
23
IDP 751
Damages
Houses 22
Bridge 2
Mosque 4
Farming land 270 hectares
Farming pools 71
Irrigation
construction 165 meters
Communication and Electricity Powers are still working, while local transportation was disrupted.
Rapid Health Assessment Team formed and
deployed
Injured and ill cases referred to District Hospitals.
Establish Health Post and evacuated victims.
Provided 100 million rupiahs (US$ 10,000) for
operational funds.
Provided 30 boxes of High energy biscuits, 10 units of emergency health kits.
MOH conducted clean water service activities.
WHO and MOH
up-dating the situation and filling the gaps in collaboration with National Board for
Disaster Management (BNPB)
WHO is in close communication with MOH in monitoring the situation through
Crisis Center as well as
District and Provincial Health Office.
Governor of West Sumatra, Head of BPBD, and Regent of Tanah Datar provided cooking oil,
sardines,
instant noodles, biscuits and sugar.
Provincial government of West Sumatra provided clothes and medical supplies
Local Agency for Disaster Management (BPBD) in close
coordination with Social Ministry and West
Sumatra Provincial Health Office are monitoring the situation.
National Army, BPBD, and local residents evacuated victims and
setting-up IDP camps in Paser
Laweh.
So far the government has not officially requested any international aid. The local authorities, with support
from central government and
ministries, are trying their best to manage the situation so far.
Agencies and Donors are welcome to provide support through on-going programmes. Dr. Rustam S. Pakaya, MPH
Head of
Department
Crisis Center (PPK â€" MoH)
Email: ppkdepkes@yahoo.com
A salamander swims in an aquarium at Mexico City's National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM ) laboratory June 10, 2009. Scientists are genetically modifying a bizarre looking Mexican salamander, which according ...
