FOUR SUB-DISTRICTS IN PEKALONGAN PRONE TO LANDSLIDES

Pekalongan, Nov 1 (ANTARA) - At least four sub-districts in Pekalongan, Central Java, are prone to landslides during the rainy season and therefore the local residents need to stay on guard.

Pekalongan district administration spokesman Agus Arifin said here on Sunday that the four landslide-prone sub-districts are Lebakbarang, Paninggaran, Kandangserang, and Petungkriono.

He said the four sub-districts are located in a hilly region on the slope of Mount Dieng.

"The areas around the slope of Mount Dieng are prone to landslides during the rainy season and therefore the local people need to anticipate it," Agus Arifin said.

To anticipate landslides in the at four sub-districts, Arifin said his office would prepare save and rescue (SAR) teams and organize disaster response training for the residents.

In addition, coordination with related institutions would be intensified to immediately control the situation if a landslide strike. .

"At present we are begging to establish coordination with the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), and for security and logistic assistance we also establish coordination with the police and social service agency," he said.

Therefore he called on the local people in the four sub-districts to give early information to the authorities if there was a landslide or flood.

"We ask the local people to give information if disasters like a flood or landslide really happen," Arifin said.