Severe Flooding in Central Java, Indonesia: 3,000 Evacuated, One Missing
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Jakarta, April 4 (NationPress) Severe flooding in the Demak regency of Central Java, Indonesia, has led to the evacuation of nearly 3,000 residents, with one individual reported as missing, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.
The flooding was precipitated by intense rainfall in upstream regions, which caused a surge in water levels and resulted in the collapse of embankments in Dukuh Solowere and Dukuh Selodoko, submerging nearby neighborhoods.
As per the agency's spokesperson, Abdul Muhari, a total of 1,070 households—impacting approximately 4,280 people—were affected. Among them, 2,839 individuals have been relocated to various shelters, while one person remains unaccounted for.
A rapid assessment by the Demak Regional Disaster Management Agency revealed that eight villages across four districts were impacted.
Local officials and emergency responders have been active in evacuating residents, establishing temporary shelters, reinforcing damaged embankments with sandbags, and providing food and medical aid to those displaced. Ongoing search operations are being conducted for the missing individual.
In a separate incident, a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Maluku region in eastern Indonesia on Thursday. During the rescue efforts post-quake, a 70-year-old woman from Minahasa regency in North Sulawesi was found deceased, having been struck by falling debris.
The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that the earthquake's epicenter was located southeast of Bitung City, North Sulawesi, with strong tremors felt for 10 to 20 seconds across the region.
Two aftershocks were also recorded at sea, indicating light to moderate damage in Ternate. Panic ensued as residents evacuated; social media showcased significant structural damage, including collapsed ceilings and distorted building frames.
The BNPB issued early tsunami warnings for North Maluku and North Sulawesi, designating “alert” and “caution” statuses. However, the tsunami warning was lifted later after monitoring revealed no significant changes in sea levels.
Local authorities have been advising residents to evacuate, particularly those in coastal regions, and to adhere to official guidance regarding safety measures.