BNPB conducts simultaneous handling to drought, tidal waves in Maluku

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) confirmed that emergency responses to the drought and coastal waves in East Seram, Maluku, have been carried out simultaneously.

Head of BNPB's Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said here on Friday that the simultaneous emergency response aims to accelerate physical recovery efforts and ensure the fulfillment of the basic logistical needs of affected residents.

"(Those measures include) conducting identification, rapid assessments, coordinating with government authorities, and distributing water tanks and clean water," he said.

Muhari explained that quick response teams from the East Seram Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) have been deployed across critical locations to conduct quick assessments, identify damage, and distribute operational assistance.

To address the drought, response efforts have been focused on delivering and supplying clean water on a regular basis to tens of thousands of residents whose wells and rivers had dried up significantly.

Using water tanker trucks, the clean water distribution has been serving 7,107 households, or 24,089 people, affected by the prolonged dry season across seven sub-districts since May.

The seven priority sub-districts for emergency clean water distribution are Bula, West Bula, East Seram, Pulau Gorom, East Gorom, Kesui Watubela, and Teor.

At the same time, emergency response efforts are also focused on restoring coastal areas struck by tidal waves triggered by stronger easterly monsoon winds.

The coastal response includes protection for 1,070 affected residents as well as structural assessments of hundreds of homes reported to have been damaged by large waves.

According to the latest data, the tidal waves had damaged 207 houses, comprising 53 severely damaged units and 154 with minor damage.

"The (exact) figure is still being processed. The BPBD team is identifying (impacts), conducting rapid assessments, and (providing) emergency handling," Muhari said.

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Translator: Prasetyo, Kenzu

Editor: Azis Kurmala

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