Flash floods hit batu city in East Java, after rains with high intensity hit the upstream area of Brantas Watershed on the slopes of Mount Arjuno, Thursday (4/11), at 14.00 WIB.

Based on an interim report from the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Batu City, the flash flood event caused 15 people to be swept away by the overflowing river flow. Four people have been found safe, but 11 are still in the search.

"Four (people) have been found. Thank God everyone is safe. There are only 11 people who have not been found," explained Achmad Choirur Rochim, as Kasie Emergency and Logistics BPBD Kota Batu by telephone.

Based on an interim visual report from BPBD Kota Batu, the current of the Brantas tributary river that passed in Sumber Brantas Village, Bumiaji Subdistrict, Batu City, was observed to flow very quickly by carrying some mud material, rocks and pieces of trees and building debris.

The flash flood according to provisional reports has impacted 5 villages in Bumiaji Subdistrict, Batu City. The details are Sumber Brantas Village, Bulu Kerto Village, Tulung Rejo Village, Padang Rejo Village and Sidomulyo Village.

"The affected are 5 villages that are fed by brantas tributaries," rochim explained.

Material loss data recorded temporarily by BPBD Kota Batu includes four vehicles washed away and one submerged house unit. Other loss data is still in the process of assessment in the field.

In order to accelerate the handling of flash floods, the BPBD Team of Batu City assisted by across related agencies including tni and polri has coordinated, rapid assessment, further data collection and prepared refugee locations.

The team also focused on the search for victims and the evacuation or rescue of people affected by the floods as well as the cleanup of facilities and infrastructure affected by flash floods.

"Emergency management operations are already underway, but indeed for tonight the focus for the search for help is the same as cleaning and restoring vital infrastructure facilities of mud-covered roads," Rochim explained.

In a separate statement, BPBD Malang City reported that flooding occurred in the settlement of the brantas watershed area riverbank that crosses Samaan Village, Klojen Subdistrict, Malang City. In addition to carrying wood and garbage material, the flood also caused some houses in Jatimulyo Village to also be submerged in water with a Water Level (TMA) of approximately 10 centimeters.

"Jatimulyo Village, water has overflowed into the settlement with a height of 10 centimeters," said Asmi as Head of Emergencies and Logistics bpbd Malang city through a written statement.

From the incident, one unit of the bridge suffered damage due to the flood flow coming from the headwaters of the Brantas River. Meanwhile, other losses and fatalities are still under further investigation by the BPBD team of Malang City.

East Java Province On Alert for Hydrometeorological Disaster

The Climatology and Geophysics Meteorology Agency (BMKG) has issued an early warning of weather forecasts that mentions that the East Java Province region has the potential for heavy rains that can be accompanied by lightning and strong winds until Friday (5/11). BMKG also established a 'alert' status for potential hydrometeorological disasters that could be triggered by weather factors for the East Java region.

Responding to the weather forecast from the BMKG, BPBD of East Java Province has forwarded early warning information of the potential rain to BPBD Regency / City to be forwarded to the relevant parties and the public to be aware of the threat of hydrometeorological disasters.

Meanwhile, through the 'BNPB-BPBD Coordination Meeting on Preparedness to Face the Impact of La Nina 2021-2020' through online media in Jakarta, Thursday (4/11), the Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Ganip Warsito asked all elements to improve preparedness in the face of potential disasters that can be triggered by weather factors and the la Nina phenomenon in the country.

The La Nina phenomenon according to BMKG has an impact on the increase in rain intensity and can trigger wet hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, flash floods, landslides. According to BMKG data and analysis, the La Nina phenomenon has hit Indonesia since August and is expected to develop until February 2022.

"The La Nina phenomenon must be together we anticipate and we prepare for its preparedness," explained Ganip.

Furthermore, Ganip also requested that all components of government in the region to the community can improve preparedness and strive for better mitigation measures than previous years. Ganip also emphasized that the preparedness efforts should be carried out at a smaller level to districts / cities. 

"This of course requires a better preparedness response than in previous years. Moreover, this year BMKG has said that there will be a La Nina phenomenon that has an impact on the increase in rain intensity that can trigger a wet hydrometeorological disaster," explained Ganip.

"On a smaller level, namely district-cities, vigilance and mitigation of the impact of La Nina is absolutely done," he said.