Nana Rukmana, Indramayu – Thousands of houses in 12 villages in the West Java regency of Indramayu have been inundated by floodwaters, and residents fear the flooding will lead to crop failures in the rice-producing region.
No casualties have been reported in the flooding, which began on Sunday, but material losses are estimated at billions of rupiah.
The regency's three main rivers – Cilalanang, Ciperawan and Sumbermas – have all overflown their banks, swamping houses, roads, government offices and schools.
The head of the Indramayu Irrigation Office, Rukanda, said at least 1,500 houses in three districts – Kandanghaur, Gabuswetan and Bongas – as well as about 1,000 hectares of rice fields, were submerged beneath 40 to 60 centimeters of floodwater.
He blamed torrential rain for causing the three rivers to burst their banks. Heavy rain has fallen on Indramayu since Sunday.
"The three rivers, which run through the three districts, could not handle the downpour," said Rukanda.
Indramayu Regent Irianto M.S. Syafiuddin has put flood-affected areas on alert status.
"The alert status is intended to help prevent a greater loss of life or property. We also want people to be prepared for the possible consequences of the floods, such as disease and food shortages. The fist step we will take is to send medical staff and food aid to flood-affected areas," Irianto said on Wednesday.
He also instructed the local disaster response team and related agencies, including the public works office and the agriculture office, to survey the flood damage. Indramayu Agriculture Office head Kustomo Tamkani expressed concern over possible crop failures in the regency. "If the floodwaters do not subside in a week's time, we fear it will be difficult to avoid harvest failures," he said.
Regent Irianto said he expected material losses from the flooding to be extensive.
"We estimate that damage from the floods could reach Rp 2 billion, just from residents' homes and rice fields, excluding public facilities like places of worship, schools and government offices. A number of village administrative offices have also been damaged in the flooding," he said.
On Wednesday, some flood victims were evacuated to higher ground, while others have moved in with relatives not affected by the flooding.
"We are afraid to return home because their is still 40 centimeters of water in our house. We are afraid of disease," said Darman, a resident of Kertamulya village in Bongas district.
Indramayu Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Djoko Purbo has deployed hundreds of officers to guard houses abandoned by their owners.
"We have deployed an adequate number of personnel to guard the houses. We are sure the houses will be safe," he said.