Dam Disaster in Central Java
Thousands of houses in several villages in Indonesia's Central Java province have flooded after a major dam leak that exacerbates the already flooded residential areas.
This rainfall was linked to a low-pressure system to the south of Java, which brought close to 200mm of rainfall to the area. Further rainfall is forecast over the coming week.
Flood depths of up to 80cm have been reported in the old town, with many roads and one railway station closed. There have been 10 reported landslides, and the authorities have advised people who live under cliff tops and close to riverbanks to evacuate the area.
Similar flooding has been reported in the past, with flood depths of up to 70 cm recorded in November 2023, and again earlier that year. It has been suggested that poor drainage in the city is responsible for such severe flooding, with past cases having been linked to rubbish blocking waterways as well as damaged or breached embankments.
"Indeed, the extreme weather has caused massive impacts to Central Java, affecting several districts and cities, such as Kendal, Semarang, Kudus, Demak, Jepara, Blora and Pati. At least eight districts and cities. So the agency has to be deployed in marathons," Suharyanto, National Disaster Mitigation Agency chief said.
The combination of high temperatures reaching about 30C, alongside 100% humidity, led to severe condensation both outside and inside people’s homes. As well as providing highly unpleasant conditions for many, this humidity led to slippery surfaces across southern China and dense fog developed, which severely reduced visibility.
Some city planners have suggested that construction alongside intertidal zones, mangrove deforestation and land subsidence through groundwater extraction activities are also to blame.
