FLASH FLOODS HIT WASIOR DISTRICT WEST PAPUA VICTIM KILLED 110 PEOPLE

by Muhammad Ihsan October 09, 2010

Jakarta: October 09, 2010 The death toll in flash floods Wasior, Wondama Bay, West Papua continue to grow. Until Friday morning (8/10), the amount found as many as 110 dead and 450 others were missing.

"This latest data from Wasior," said Pitsaw Amafnini, Coordinator of Social and Environmental Network (Jasoil) Papua. Government Wondama Bay this morning is planned to record the damaged building and continue the search for victims that have not been found.

Search today is still constrained many fallen trees, the remaining rubble of buildings and almost all areas flooded with mud. "We have requested the help of heavy equipment from Manokwari, hopefully if there are immediate, can be used to clean the remaining buildings and trees," said Chief District Bappeda Wondama Bay, Silas Kapissa.

Meanwhile in Manokwari, West Papua, the number of refugees who departed
from the Gulf Wondama estimated at about 4 thousand inhabitants. Hundreds of them still occupy temporary shelters built the local Military District Command.

Bay Area Governments Wondama deploy four ships to transport the refugees, namely KM Gracelia, KM Papua III, KRI Kalakay and KM Delta Mas II. "The number of residents in Wasior already began to decrease, more time is evacuated to Nabire and Manokwari," said Piter Lambey, First Assistant District Government Wondama Bay.

In the camps, some flood victims pickup bed mats repose. They have to queue for a shower and defecate. "His condition is like that," said Pitsaw Amafnini. In Jayapura, a number of organizations began to raise money for flood victims.

Muslim Student Association to bring boxes of donations and ask motorists passing by at some point. "The fund will be distributed to flood victims in Wasior," said Syarifudin, coordinator of the Islamic Students Association of Jayapura.

Water Is Like Tsunami

Relentless rain from Sunday through early Monday, causing rivers that disgorge Wondiwoy Mountains are overflowing. In addition to water and mud, bring flash floods and rocks and logs the following roots. As a result, the houses of residents in the left edge of the river destroyed the water washed away. "People who had rushed out of the house to escape to the hills or the higher regions. While residents are still in the house are not all able to save themselves. Houses are generally semi-permanent residents of the wood material eroded and collapsed. That is what causes the fall in heavy casualties, "said Silami, First Assistant Secretary Wondama Bay District.

Hundreds of residents who survived or were injured fled to a room at the regent's office located in the hills. Most of the victims lying on the terrace of the office. Occasionally they groaned in pain because of injuries sustained from a house hit by debris that eroded flood. They generally do not get medical care. "Medical aid has not arrived since the tsunami inundation is similar to this," said Silami.

Meanwhile, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono confirmed flash flood disaster in Wasior, West Papua, not related to the existence of illegal logging (illegal logging), but because of rainfall that was remarkable.

However, although the head of National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Syamsul Maarif have reported that the disaster was not related to the existence of illegal logging, the president insisted he would check on the truth and plans to go to disaster areas on Sunday morning (October 10, 2010).

"According to reports Mr. Syamsul, while no relation to illegal logging or illegal logging that is called by some quarters," Yudhoyono said in a press conference that was held yesterday after receiving the report from the Head BNPB who had just returned from the disaster site in Wasior.

Yudhoyono said the checks directly to trace the truth is not related disasters in Wasior forest logging, the Head of State will be bringing the experts to analyze the causes of the disaster.

The president said the report mentioned BNPB flash floods come at once, the terrain is steep, the steepness of the slope exists at 60 degrees, so that engulfed residential areas. Moreover, there is only very thin distance between sea and land. The same incident referred to happened in 1955.

"After I saw for myself, just to say whether this is due to exceptional rainfall, [so] rivers drain the water and mud [which] caused flash floods, or indeed anything to do with the situation in the nearby forest which he says is illegal wild."

In the same occasion, according to the invention of wood together Syamsul flood, not a result of illegal logging but allowed to float due to landslides

"Forest [in Wasior] virgin. Wood [found] due to rain for a week. At 11 tonight until the morning until the floods. So did the soil erosion along the tree," said Syamsul.

President SBY also has instructed the military to deploy Navy ships to bring logistics, because it is not easy to get it in West Papua, such as fast food, clean water, and medicine.

BNPB reported today that the victim died from Wasior flash floods has reached 110 people, and there were still 76 people who remain missing.

Meanwhile, former Vice President Jusuf Kalla said the flash flood disaster in Wasior, West Papua, due to illegal logging and high rainfall.

"It happened because of illegal logging are offset by heavy rain. While there is illegal but no rain is also not going to happen," he said after attending a gathering of national leaders of Muhammadiyah held yesterday.

According to him, the case of the logging is already happening even before he became vice president. "I had never heard of but the proof is [logging], and it happened since the 90's," he said.

Therefore, JK, Jusuf Kalla close calls, asking for immediate action logging stopped. "Deforestation is there must be stopped immediately," he said.

JK is also the Chairman of the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), said that PMI has lowered volunteers from Makassar to evacuate since the first day of the disaster. "The principle is if there's disaster area before the new fall center. If the new center could not intervene," he said.

JK also promised to review directly to the scene. "The PMI is already in there, if all well I will definitely come," he promised.

Rehabilitation

Furthermore, JK said that currently it is also not less important the community thinks is the rehabilitation of homes because of flash floods in Wasior disaster happened on Tuesday was almost wiped out people's homes.

Separately, former President Megawati Sukarnoputri government is very slow rate and be more reactive in flood disaster management in Papua, which has claimed more than 100 people dead.

The assessment was delivered by Megawati after giving a briefing to all members of Parliament from the Democratic Party of Struggle faction yesterday.

"In a disaster, I see the government now is very slow," he said responding questions from journalists about the flood disaster in the easternmost province of Indonesia.

According to Megawati, should every time disaster strikes, the government should be more proactive by sending immediate aid even though the region was far corners of the country.

Despite the acknowledged territory of Indonesia is very large making it difficult handling natural disasters, according to him, at least the minimum the government should take action that can be done as soon as possible.

"It's hard because our country great. However, if something catastrophic happens, one day after the incident should be dispatched with the minimum," he said.