Jakarta (ANTARA) -
Indonesia's Social Affairs Ministry has stepped up emergency assistance for thousands affected by floods and landslides in Pati district, Central Java, as persistent heavy rain raises the risk of further flooding.
Social Affairs Minister Saifullah Yusuf said on Tuesday the emergency response focuses on meeting basic needs and ensuring the safety of affected residents, with closer coordination among the central government, local authorities, and related agencies.
"The Social Affairs Ministry continues to coordinate with local governments to ensure the emergency response runs optimally, especially in meeting the basic needs of affected residents," he said.
Floods and landslides struck on Friday evening (Jan. 9), following intense rainfall, directly affecting five villages in Juwana sub-district: Doro Payung, Bumirejo, Tluwah, Kuduk Eras, and Kedung Pancing.
Preliminary data showed about 8,000 families, or roughly 20,000 people, were affected. Around 300 families, totaling about 900 people, were displaced to village halls, community centers, and the homes of relatives.
No deaths or injuries have been reported, and water levels have begun to recede in some areas. However, downstream and coastal sub-districts, including Juwana, Dukuhseti, and Gabus, remain inundated.
The ministry has deployed field kitchens at the Pati Social Affairs Office and in Banjarsari village, Gabus sub-district, producing 3,600 meal packages per day since Jan. 19 with support from provincial officials and disaster response volunteers.
Additional community-run kitchens are being supported by the local government, while the ministry has distributed logistics assistance in two phases, including ready-to-eat food, bedding, tents, family kits, and clothing.
The response follows Pati's declaration of a 14-day emergency status through Jan. 23. Local disaster officials said floods and landslides affected 20 districts, inundating about 3,700 homes, damaging 7,000 others, and impacting public facilities, roads, levees, and roughly 1,300 hectares of rice fields.
