Jakarta (ANTARA) -Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR) Speaker Puan Maharani urged government institutions and policymakers to strengthen disaster mitigation efforts by anticipating periods of high rainfall, drawing lessons from the recent flash flood in Solok, West Sumatra.
She emphasized the need for stakeholders, including the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), to step up preventive measures across the country, including by evaluating the flood-control capacity of existing dams in various regions.
“DPR has repeatedly discussed this matter with BNPB. In fact, our disaster mitigation team has alluded to the need for mitigation efforts,” Puan told reporters at the Parliament Complex in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The lawmaker stressed that stronger coordination among ministries and state agencies is essential to ensuring effective anticipatory measures through strategic collaboration.
She confirmed that local authorities in Solok are continuing search and evacuation efforts in affected areas and expressed hope that the disaster’s impact could be minimized.
“However, it is crucial to pursue more effective anticipatory and mitigation measures going foreard,” the lawmaker said.
The flash flood struck on Monday night (Sept. 21) after two days of rainfall in Solok, affecting multiple homes and district government facilities.
Solok District Head Jon Firman Pandu said on Tuesday that the buildings of the Public Works and Spatial Planning Office and the Health Office were among the facilities affected.
He emphasized that his administration had moved swiftly to respond to the emergency in coordination with various institutions, including the military and the police.
“We have also prepared an evacuation shelter for residents whose homes were damaged or affected by the flood,” he remarked.
He added that the district government had begun assessing the impact of the flood, including mapping affected homes, government offices, and public facilities.
The disaster injured at least four residents and displaced 32 people, according to a report from Solok’s disaster mitigation body. Search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.
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Translator: B.A. Rizaldi, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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