April 5, 2021

Anne Murray 

The Indonesian board for natural disaster affairs National Agency for Disaster Countermeasure (BNPB) stated on April 5 the tropical Cyclone Seroja had brought torrential rains and swept across the islands in southeast Indonesia. Floods and landslides were triggered by tropical cyclone Seroja in Indonesia's West and East Nusa Tenggara provinces and the Timor island shared by two countries.

BNPB spokesman Raditya Jati said about 30,000 people were affected by the floods. In addition, 5 bridges were reportedly collapsed and some road traffics were blocked by falling trees. Local authorities said hundreds of houses and other facilities, including a solar power plant, were ruined. Ships and motor boats disappeared under 6-meter high waves near the shore. Cyclone  Seroja just flew through villages in the Malaka district in the Savu sea southwest of Timor island in the early hours of April 5. The Timor government has evacuated 7,000 residents in East Timor while at least 27 were killed by flash floods, landslides, and a falling tree.

According to Indonesia's weather agency, Cyclone Seroja may intensify with more heavy winds and rains. Fearing landslides and floods triggered by the extreme weather, Indonesia's President Joko Widodo has offered his condolences and ordered his government officials to take immediate disaster relief efforts, and urged fellow citizens to follow the direction from rescue officers.

Photo : webshot.