DEMAK, CENTRAL JAVA —— Dompet Dhuafa Central Java and the Dompet Dhuafa Disaster Management Center (DMC) deployed a disaster response team to the flood-affected area in Sriwulan Village, Sayung District, Demak Regency, on Monday (May 30, 2022). The DMC team coordinated with the local Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and participated in flood response activities. There, the DMC team also set up a public kitchen and clean water distribution service, with an estimated 600 beneficiaries from the overall Dompet Dhuafa Central Java and DMC Dompet Dhuafa program.
“Some residents can cook for themselves, but those with difficult access rely on food aid deliveries. Additionally, there is a shortage of public sanitation facilities. Many household sanitation facilities are unusable due to flooding,“ explained Ardian Mahardika, a member of the Dompet Dhuafa Central Java response team, when contacted at the location.
”Residents require healthcare services, clean water, ready-to-eat food supplies, hygiene kits, and family kits,” he added.
Meanwhile, several obstacles that pose challenges for the joint response team in handling the emergency are the continuing tidal waves, the condition of the affected area in Tanjung Mas Village with a topography that makes it difficult for water to drain, the limited number of water pumps, and difficult access to the location.
Previously, on Monday (May 23, 2022), coastal flooding at Tanjung Emas Port, Semarang City, reached a water level of 1-2 meters. This caused the Tanjung Emas Port river embankment to collapse at 2:30 p.m. Western Indonesian Time, causing water to enter the residential area of Sriwulan Village, Sayung District, Demak Regency.
“The cause of the embankment collapse was due to a large tidal wave, which caused the seawall in the Lamicitra area to be unable to withstand the large volume of seawater,” explained Dikki Ruli, Head of Emergency Management at the Central Java Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).
Based on data developments as of Friday (5/27/2022), almost all regencies and cities along the north coast (Pantura) of Central Java were hit by tidal flooding and high waves.
The affected areas include Brebes Regency, Tegal Regency, Tegal City, Pemalang Regency, Pekalongan Regency, Pekalongan City, Batang Regency, Kendal Regency, Semarang City, Demak Regency, Jepara Regency, Pati Regency, and Rembang Regency.
In Pekalongan City, the flood reached a water level of between 10 and 90 centimeters. As a result of this incident, 221 people were forced to evacuate. Pekalongan Regency reported that four villages were affected by tidal flooding with a height of 5-40 centimeters. The four villages are Tegaldowo Village, Karangjompo Village, Mulyorejo Village, and Depok Village.
Next, in Pemalang Regency, there were eight villages submerged by tidal flooding with water levels of 30-100 centimeters. The eight villages include Pesantren Village, Mojo Village, Ketapang Village, Kaliprau Village, Tasikrejo Village, Blendung Village, Kertosari Village, and Limbangan Village. In Batang Regency, tidal flooding with a water level of up to 40 centimeters submerged Klidang Lor Village and Karangasem Utara Subdistrict, which are directly adjacent to the Java Sea.
Meanwhile, in Kendal Regency, flooding was reported in five villages and two subdistricts, namely Mororejo Village, Wonorejo Village, Kartikajaya Village, Wonosari Village, Pidodokulon Village, Karangsari Subdistrict, and Bandengan Subdistrict. The incident affected 1,847 people.
Then in Semarang City, tidal flooding occurred with water levels reaching more than 1-2 meters. The areas most severely affected by tidal flooding were in the Lamicitra area, including Bandarharjo, Kebonharjo, Tambak Lorok, and Kemijen, which are directly adjacent to the Java Sea.
Then in Demak Regency, tidal flooding was reported in Sriwulan Village, Purworejo Village, Morodenak Village, and Margolinduk Village. The incident affected approximately 10,000 people. The water level due to the tidal flooding was recorded at 25-100 centimeters.
Furthermore, in Jepara Regency, including Kedungmalang Village, Surodadi Village, and Panggung Village. The distance between the houses affected by the tidal flooding was only approximately 500 meters from the coastline. The flood submerged residential areas with a water level of 10-20 centimeters.
Pati Regency also reported the areas most affected by tidal flooding. These areas include Puncel Village, Banyutowo Village, Dukuhseti Village, Alasdowo Village, Tegalombo Village, and Kinanti Village in Dukuhseti District. Then there are Dororejo Village, Sambiroto Village, Tunggulsari Village, Jepatlor Village, Margotuhu Village, and Keborama Village in Tayu District. Margomulyo Village, Bulumanis Village, Pangkalan Village, Pohijo Village, Tunjungrejo Village, and Margotuhu Village in Margoyoso District. Kertomulyo Village, Sambilawang Village, Tlutub Village, Khadilangu Village, and Guyangan Village in Trangkil District. Bendar Village, Kudukeras Village, and Bakaran Village in Juwana District.
Finally, in the Rembang Regency. In the easternmost regency in the northern part of Central Java province, at least nine villages were affected, including Gegunung Kulon Village, Pandean Village, Tasikagung Village, Pantiharjo Village, Pasar Banggi Village, Pandangan Village, Karangharjo Village, Kalipang Village, and Banyudono Village. Across all affected areas, 119 households were impacted and 11 residents were displaced.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the widespread tidal flooding was triggered by several factors, including the perigee phenomenon, which is when the Moon is at its closest point to Earth. In this condition, the Moon’s orbit is close to Earth and can affect the tides. Another factor is the increase in wave height on the north side of Java Island.
Previously, the BMKG had issued an early warning on May 13, 2022, regarding the potential for coastal flooding in several regions of Indonesia, coinciding with the full moon and perigee phases. According to the BMKG, tidal flooding such as that occurring along the northern coast is predicted to continue for the next few days. (Dompet Dhuafa / DMC / Dhika)