Konsulat Jenderal Evacuates Indonesians Affected by Hurricane Harvey

Jakarta, (Antara) - The Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Houston, Texas, has evacuated some Indonesian citizens living in the city following catastrophic flooding in the region as the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

Director of Indonesian Citizens Protection of the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lalu Muhammad Iqbal stated here on Thursday that the residences of more than 120 Indonesians were inundated in Houston.

"Most of them have been evacuated to several local shelters, churches, and Indonesian Mosque, while others chose to move to the houses of other Indonesians nearby," Iqbal said.

The KJRI in Houston is also using its shelter to accommodate Indonesians.
 
On Wednesday, five Indonesian citizens sought refuge at KJRI's shelter. They were traveling and got stranded in Houston due to the hurricane.

The KJRI in Houston has formed a Hurricane Harvey mitigation task force to provide assistance to Indonesian citizens affected by the storm.

Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi has urged the KJRI in Houston to keep its communication line open for Indonesian communities in US, especially in the affected regions, to monitor the current developments and situation of Indonesian citizens.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian diaspora in Houston is gathering donations for residents and Indonesian citizens affected by Hurricane Harvey through the Facebook account: gofundme.

"There has been no report of any Indonesian casualty so far," Iqbal remarked.

The local authority of Texas has issued a mandatory and voluntarily evacuation order to the residents of Houston and has evacuated more than 30 thousand people.

High intensity rains, reaching 40 inches, coupled with strong winds continue to lash Houston and its surrounding areas.

Data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs revealed that 65,306 Indonesians are currently living in the US, of which 9,137 are residing in Houston and several locations in Texas within KJRI's area of work.

The Indonesian representative in Houston continues its keep its line of communication open by operating a 24-hour hotline +1 346-932-7284 for any Indonesian seeking assistance and information.

Harvey, a category 4 hurricane, made landfall on the Texas coast on Friday night, with winds reaching speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, the most powerful one to hit the US since 2004.

It wrecked havoc on Corpus Christi and several small towns around it.

Hurricane Harvey has weakened to a tropical depression but will continue to produce torrential rains for the next few days in the US.(*)