900 homes inundated after flash floods and landslides hit West Java, Indonesia

Heavy rains triggered flash floods and landslides in Garut District of West Java, Indonesia, on Monday, October 12, 2020. Hundreds of houses were submerged, displacing around 1 000 families.

Intense downpours began Sunday, October 11, and continued into Monday morning. This resulted in the overflow of the Cipalebuh and Cikaso rivers, sending floodwaters to surrounding houses, according to Garut Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) logistics head, Imam Imrania.

More than 900 houses were inundated, forcing around 800 families to evacuate. No casualties were reported, Imrania added.

The affected districts were Cikelet, CIbalong, Peundeuy, Singjaya, Banjarawangi, and Pameungpeuk, which was hit the worst.

Garut Regent Rudy Gunawan said he will visit the area to assess the situation, adding that the social agency has provided 10 tons of rice to flood victims.

Local officials reported that floodwaters in the said district reached up to 0.8 m (2.6 feet) high.

Image credit: BPBD Parigi Moutong

Landslides also occurred as a result of the rainfall, damaging several homes in Tasikmalaya on Monday. Rudy said the deforestation in Cikajang and Cisompet contributed to the natural disasters.

"The Garut regency administration will take legal action against [those responsible for] the deforestation, as it has caused disasters."

Since October 7, floods and landslides have affected wide swaths of Indonesia. In Central Java, two people lost their lives in a landslide in Dawe District on Monday.

Last week, thousands were affected by floods in North Sumatra, Bengkulu, and West Sulawesi provinces, and Bali, where one person died.

Featured image credit: BPBD Parigi Moutong