Purwokerto, Central Java (ANTARA) - The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Banjarnegara District, Central Java, has proposed to raise the emergency status for landslides that hit the district, from emergency alert to emergency response.

"We have submitted the decree to the acting district head of Banjarnegara to be signed. Hopefully, the letter will be out tomorrow," the agency's Head of the Emergency and Logistics Division, Andri Sulistyo, stated when contacted from here on Monday.

He noted that the rise in emergency status will not be implemented in all areas of Banjarnegara but only for seven sub-districts -- Susukan, Bawang, Banjarmangu, Punggelan, Pandanarum, Wanayasa, and Pagentan -- that need emergency handling support.

"Based on yesterday's meeting, the time needed for emergency handling to building temporary housing is approximately 40-45 days," he remarked.

According to Sulistyo, the construction of temporary housing units is prioritized in areas that have no temporary housing yet, such as Sipedang Village in Banjarmangu Sub-district.

As for areas that already have temporary housing, he said the damaged units that need to be renovated will be checked.

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The landslides that hit several areas of Banjarnegara in early 2024 have displaced 161 people in 45 families.

To this end, the Banjarnegara BPBD is making efforts to meet the basic needs of the affected residents and provide safe places for the evacuees.

The agency has also opened field posts, provided assistance, and deployed volunteers to take handling and mitigation measures.

The Banjarnegara BPBD appealed to the residents to stay calm and immediately evacuate themselves when continuous rainfall occurs amid the extreme weather.

Earlier, Acting District Head of Banjarnegara, Tri Harso Widirahmanto, implemented an emergency alert status for landslides that hit the district that is in effect until March 10, 2024.

Related news: Improve mitigation against floods, landslides: ministry

Translator: Sumarwoto, Raka Adji
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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