The four villages located around Mount Slamet, Kedungbanten Sub-district are Kalisalak, Windujaya, Baseh, and Dawuhan Kulon village, while Kracak village is in Ajibarang Sub-district.
According to Listyo Harsono (39), a resident of Grumbul Windusari hamlet in Kalisalak Village, the whirlwind hit the village from around 00.00.a.m. to 05.00 a.m. local time when there was no rain.
"The wind hit my house from two directions. They whirled and tore away seven of my asbestos roofs," he said.
Meanwhile, another house which belongs to Imam Sartono (42), a resident of Grumbul Windusari was struck by a toppled big tree that heavily damaged the kitchen and the bathroom.
Several houses in four village in Kedungbanteng Sub-district were also struck by toppled tree.
The most severe area affected by the whirlwind is Windusari Village which is located near the forest at South of Mount Slamet.
According to some local residents, strong winds often hit the region. However, if the winds come from the North it is not destructive, while those coming from the South is destructive.
Whirlwind also toppled a hennery which has around 1,500 chicks at age 12 in Kracak villge, Ajibarang Sub-district but there is no report of the number of the dead chicks.
Strong wind was recorded to still occurred in some region in Banyumas Distric at 11.30 a.m.
Banyumas Disaster Management Office could not provide the official record of the damaged houses and villages yet.(*)
Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
