I and the extended family of DPR RI condole (the deaths of residents) in the disaster.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Chief of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI) Puan Maharani has expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in Monday's landslides in Tarakan City, North Kalimantan Province.

"I and the extended family of DPR RI condole (the deaths of residents) in the disaster," she noted in a written statement released on Tuesday.

Head of the Civil Service Police and Fire Service Unit of Tarakan Hanip Manisan stated on Monday that the landslides, caused by unremitting heavy rains, hit four locations in Tarakan and claimed 14 lives in the wee hours of the day.

The landslides that occurred in hilly areas also injured several people and damaged numerous houses.

Parts of Tarakan have received downpour since Sunday evening until Monday.

According to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BNPB’s) data, landslides and floods were the most common natural disasters to have affected Indonesia during the period between January and September 2020, Maharani stated.

The House speaker called on the central and regional governments as well as the people to stay alert for disasters, especially when the country enters the rainy season, which will potentially increase the number of landslides and floods.

"During the COVID-19 pandemic, the disasters will increasingly become frequent and severe. We all must remain vigilant, though disasters are difficult to forecast," she stated.

She highlighted that the DPR RI’s deliberations were underway on a disaster mitigation bill or amendment to Disaster Mitigation Law Number 24 of 2007 proposed by the House.

The bill is a reform of the existing disaster mitigation regulation and law that do not govern the handling of disasters in detail, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, she added.

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Translator: Abdu Faisal/Suharto
Editor: Sri Haryati
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