ID :
80364
Thu, 09/17/2009 - 08:16
Auther :

LANDSLIDE DESTROYS HOUSE IN MALANG, EAST JAVA

Malang, E Java, Sept 16 (ANTARA) - A landslide occurred on Wednesday at 02.00 local time and destroyed a house in Dusun Wonomulyo, Argotirto village in the Sumbermanjing Wetan region of Malang district, East Java.

According to Sumbermanjing subdistrict head Bambang Istiawan, the house that was buried by the 1.5-meter landslide belonged to Sidi (43) and the loss was estimated at Rp50-Rp75 million
"Sidi and two of his family members have been evacuated to their nearest relatives. The number of landslide casualties and the damage suffered have not yet been reported until now. The incident was caused by continuous rain from Tuesday afternoon until Wednesday morning," he said
The land on which Sidi's house stood and the South Malang areas are landslide- and flood-prone because its consists of clay In the dry season, the soil becomes pourous s but during the rainy seasons it sinks because it cannot absorb water or support plants.

Meanwhile, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) observation section chief, Ir Koeswara, said the early arrival of rain in the last two days was caused by winds from the Southeast and the convection cloud formations.

In low-pressure areas, such as areas from Pacitan to Banyuwangi, the condition has the potential to bring rain. But the rain potential is light with low rainfall and the wind also blows lightly , 5-35 km per hour.

"The sudden climate change with light rain potential will occurs in the next 3-5 days , and it is predicted rain will fall on the Idul Fitri holidays," he said.

Beside the landslide which devastated one house, heavy rain also occurred for several hours and broke a dam at Lebakharjo village, Ampelgading subdistrict, Malang district but no casualties were reported from the incident.

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