Jokowi Reveals Cause of Flash Floods in Demak

Demak – Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) with the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), Basuki Hadimuljono did an inspection of flood-affected community in Demak, Central Java, on Friday.

The Head of State stated that the high intensity of rainfall caused several collapse dike to be damaged, resulting in flooding in Demak.

"It's because the extremely heavy rain because around 150 millimeters. Also, it's already 238 millimeters, very extreme. So, the existing embarkment cannot contain it," President Jokowi said on Thursday.

Furthermore, President Jokowi mentioned that many plants and trees were cut down, making the riverbeds prone to overflowing. Indeed, all rivers face sedimentation problems.

"All reservoirs, all rivers face the problem of sedimentation. Why does it happen? Because they are not blocked at their source, many plants have been cut down. That's where all the problems stem from. If it's not flash floods, it's regular floods. The problem lies there,"

Therefore, the President stated that Regional Governments must address river sedimentation by replanting numerous plants. Additionally, land use conversion must be prevented.

"Regional Governments handle this (long-term solution). Replanting, reforestation, and land use conversion must continue. Land use conversion such as deforestation causes these incidents. All these problems stem from illegal logging," he explained.

Earlier, President Jokowi stated that the government had swiftly repaired the breached embankments that caused flooding in the Demak and Kudus regions, Central Java.

Thus, he hoped that the collapse dike repaairment would be completed promptly.

The President further had instructed Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono to address the issue of the breached embankments.

Additionally, the President had instructed BNPB to provide direct assistance to the flood-affected communities in Demak and Kudus.