Public relations officer of PMI’s Cianjur Disaster Emergency Response Ikbal Selamet said that until now, residents in a number of villages in Cugenang sub-district, such as Cibulakan, Benjod, Sarampad, Mangunkerrta, and Nyalindung, are lacking access to clean water due to the appearance of surface cracks caused by the earthquake.
"Therefore, PMI is focusing the distribution of clean water starting from the evacuation posts to the affected villages and public facilities in a number of areas," Selamet informed in Cianjur, West Java, on Monday.
Every day, PMI is dispatching 16 water trucks with a capacity of 5 thousand liters per unit to supply water to residents three times a day. As of the 22nd day following the earthquake, the PMI has supplied more than two million liters of clean water, he informed.
PMI has also provided 24-hour health services, which were started two days after the earthquake and will be continued for the next six months at Camp Joglo evacuation post on Pangeran Hidayattulah street. Residents who need health services can visit the evacuation post, Selamet said.
The loss of clean water sources from below or above the ground (such as wells) was confirmed by the residents of a number of villages in Cugenang, Pacet, and Cianjur sub-districts. After the earthquake struck, the residents' water sources disappeared with the emergence of cracks in the ground.
A resident of Kawunggading village, Cugenang sub-district, Muklis, said that after the earthquake, he saw a crack in the ground about 20 centimeters wide running from the rice field to the fish pond and the residents’ housing.
"The ground cracks sucked the water in the ponds and rice fields. All the fish in the ponds seemed to be sucked into the ground and disappeared as well," he informed.
Residents of Nagrak village, Cianjur sub-district, and three villages in Pacet sub-district have also confirmed the loss of sources of clean water from below and above the ground. Cracks on the ground that emerged after the earthquake dried up their water sources.
So far, the residents have been solely relying on water supply from the PMI, police, national defence forces, and the Public Works and Public Housing Ministry (PUPR).
Related news: Cianjur quake death toll climbs to 600: Government
Related news: PMI builds temporary shelters for Cianjur quake victims
Related news: Humanitarian camp center built to facilitate Cianjur recovery process
Translator: Ahmad Fikri, Resinta S
Editor: Azis Kurmala
Copyright © ANTARA 2022
