Tidal Wave Warning System Needed Urgently

The West Java provincial administration urged the central government through its National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) Monday to speed up the installation of an early warning system for tidal waves and tsunami along the southern coast of the province.

West Java Deputy Governor Nu’man Abdul Hakim said requests had been made after a tsunami hit West Java’s coast last year, but the government gave priority to the installation of an early warning system in Sumatra.

“Based on last week’s tidal waves, we’re convinced that Basarnas has to speed up the installation of the early warning system facilities,” Nu’man said.

Nu’man, who is also head of West Java’s disaster prevention coordination unit, explained the tidal waves destroyed more than 300 houses and dozens of fishing boats in Sukabumi, Cianjur and Garut between May 17 and 18, 2007.

As many as 864 people were displaced in Sukabumi and another 736 in Garut after their houses were flattened to the ground by waves of up to three and four meters high, he said, adding that no data of displaced victims was available for Cianjur.

In Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, tidal waves damaged two floating berths in Komodo National Park, on Komodo Island, on Friday.

The waves also destroyed a berth pole, berth deck, berth foundation and gateway to berth locations. “The waves reached a height of up to 10 meters,” said Vinsensius Latief, head of the park’s management team.

The waves destroyed two houses and inundated 20 others at Hepong and Sikka villages, in Sikka regency, where residents fled in panic to safer areas.

Lela district head Ricardus Piterson said according to local residents’ experiences, Friday’s waves were the first to ever occur in the area.

“There was no earthquake nor strong winds, but tidal waves suddenly hit the areas for two consecutive hours. No casualties were reported, but local people were traumatized,” West Manggarai police chief Comr. Butce Hello said.

According to data at the West Sumatra Marine Resources and Fisheries Office, tidal waves destroyed 267 houses in Padang, West Sumatra.

Fachri Syam, head of the office, said most of the damaged houses belonged to local fishermen. “We’ve sent data on the damages to the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry. We are waiting for instructions from the ministry on the assistance to be given to the victims,” he said, adding that 400 fishermen were reluctant to go out to sea.

Areas hit by the waves include Padang city, Pariaman city, Padangpariaman regency, Agam regency, South Pesisir regency and West Pasaman regency.

Aside from causing damage to several houses, the waves destroyed a turtle conservation berth on Karabek Ketek island, near South Pesisir regency.

Based on the calculations of the West Sumatra disaster mitigation coordination unit, losses incurred from damage caused by the tidal waves have reached Rp 1.19 billion (US$132,200). At least 2,440 people were displaced due to the tidal waves and have been temporarily accommodated at neighbors’ houses, school buildings and in tents.

In Indramayu, West Java, the tidal waves caused destruction to mangrove forests and fish farms along the northern coast. The tidal waves also damaged the Tirtamaya seaside tourist spot in Indramayu, where losses are estimated to reach billions of rupiah.

“Before the tidal waves came, destruction along the local seashore was already at an alarming level,” said Yoyon Suharyono, head of the Labor and Environment Foundation.

In Yogyakarta, waves that destroyed dozens of houses and boats discouraged local fishermen from going out to sea.
“Most boats that were damaged due to the tidal waves are now being repaired. This is why we are not going out to sea,” said Ngadiman, a fishermen from Pandansimo beach in Poncosari, Bantul.

Contributors for this report include Yuli Tri Suwarni, from Bandung; Yemris Fointuna, from Kupang; Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, from Padang; Nana Rukmana, from Indramayu; and Slamet Susanto, from Yogyakarta.