President visits region hit by floods in C Java

President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) visited Pacitan, a district in Central Java, recently hit by floods and landslides that have killed 25 people on Saturday.

In Krajan, Karang Ploso, Jokowi handed over aid to the people.

The head of National Disaster Mitigation Agency, Willem Rampangilei, said that the president has called for repairing infrastructures that have been damaged by floods and landslides in several regions in Java to be finished within three months.

"The policy of the president is that the repair of strategic infrastructures that have been damaged must immediately be done, in addition to social and economic recovery efforts, and it must be finished within three months, so that the isolation will not be protracted," he stated.

The dam in Krajan has been broken and is currently under repair due to flash floods at the end of November, while several houses and school buildings have also been damaged.

Jokowi was accompanied by Public Works Minister Basuki Hadimuljono, Education Minister Muhajir Effendi, Transportation Minister Budi Karya Sumadi, Chief of Presidential Staff Teten Masduki, Presidential Special Staff Johan Budi, and East Java Governor during the visit.

"At present, we are still making an inventory of damages caused by the hydrometeorological impact of recent Cempaka hurricane disaster. It is massive. East, Central, and West Java have all been affected. We have discussed them with the public works ministry. The president has ordered for an immediate action," Willem revealed.

"The president`s order is clear. First it is to deal with evacuees, and the next is restoration, so that public services may be operated immediately followed by infrastructure repair," he remarked

Source: ANTARA