Ponorogo, East Java, (Antara) - Chief of the National Agency for Disaster Management (BNPB) Willem Rampangilei has called on the Ponorogo district government in East Java Province to immediately relocate all residents affected by the landslide in Banaran Village.
"We have urged the local government to immediately provide a place to relocate the people affected by the landslides. The Ponorogo district head has approved proposals from the community to build the relocation area in their fields, but we will first examine the area to ascertain whether it is safe from a potential disaster," Rampangilei noted through a press release received by Antara here on Monday.
He ensured that the emergency response period has come into effect from April 2 to April 15, 2017. During that time, the search process and the handling of refugees will still continue and will be extended by evaluating the results of the search operation and development of the situation on the field.
Earlier on Sunday, Social Affairs Minister Khofifah Indar Parawansa had suggested relocating the victims of the landslide that had hit Ponorogo District.
"An option for most areas prone to landslides is relocation," Minister Khofifah noted while visiting the victims of the landslide in Wagir Kidul, Pulung Sub-district, here, Sunday.
To support the relocation plan, the district administration must allocate a plot of land, she said, adding that relevant ministries will build houses for the victims, and the Social Affairs Ministry will provide furniture and other equipment, as well as social allowances.
She said environmental degradation could trigger landslides; hence, tree planting activities in arid areas should be intensified.
Incessant downpour since Friday evening triggered the landslide, which occurred in Banaran Village, Pulung Sub-district, Ponorogo District, on Saturday at around 6 a.m. local time.
The landslide hit when most of the people were harvesting ginger in the fields, while others were still in their houses.(*)
