Emergency period ends for flood-torn Sentani

NATURAL DISASTER/ EARTHQUAKE - JAKARTA. The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) announced on Saturday that authorities had decided to end the 14-day emergency period in Sentani district, Jayapura, Papua, after a flash flood struck the area on March 16.

It is known that 112 died in the disaster,  while 17 others remain missing. Light to severe injuries were sustained by 961 people.

With the end of the emergency period, the transition phase will last three months until July 27, BNPB spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement.

“Things conducted during the emergency period can still be carried out during the transition phase, except the victim search process,” Sutopo said, adding that the majority of search and rescue personnel would also be withdrawn from the affected area as soon as the emergency period ended.

The flood, according to the BNPB, not only affected Sentani district but also four neighboring districts of Waibu, West Sentani, Ravenirara and Depapre. At least 105 of the casualties were people who lived in Jayapura regency, while the remaining seven victims lived in the city of Jayapura.

Seventy-seven victims have been identified by the National Police’s fingerprint identification system. Meanwhile, 35 others have yet to be identified as the majority of them were migrants who had not reported to local authorities upon their arrival in the region.

Sutopo further revealed that  the families of 52 victims had received compensation of Rp 15 million (US$1,054) per victim.

Evacuees have started to return to their homes, however, 4, 763 evacuees remain at 21 evacuation sites.

The flood reportedly damaged, among other things,  2,287 houses, 59 schools, five bridges and two churches. As many as 7,321 joint force personnel are in the affected areas to help with recovery efforts.