Wasior Flash Flood Was Not A Natural Phenomenon – WALHI

Posted by admin on Oct 10, 2010 | Leave a Comment

At around 4 am East Indonesian Time on Monday, October 4, 2010, a ferocious flash floods hit Wasior the capital city of Wondama Bay regency. Within minutes the city inundated with a raging stream of water. The flood destroys houses, cars and whatever else was on its path. 65 people were reported dead and 76 were seriously injured with dozens are still missing. Local residents describe the event as a small tsunami.


Wasior Flash Flood that kills many people

The cause of the flood was the overflowing of four rivers upstream of Wasior because of the continuous rain for the past few days. Two of the rivers the Angris and the Kiot function as water sources for Wasior resident day to day life.

Wondama Bay is one of regencies in the West Papua province resulted from the division of Manokwari regencies. This region has been designated as marine and terrestrial conservation areas by the Central Government.

Wondama Bay regency total administrative area is 12,146.62 km2. It consists of 13 districts which in turn divided further into 76 villages. The population is currently around 20,518 inhabitants, consisted of 10,927 of men and 9591 women. Included in this region are the Wondiboi Mountain Forest Reserves and Cenderawasih Bay National Sea Parks that stretches from the East Kwatisore Peninsula to northern coast of Rumberpon Island with approximately 500 meters of coastal lines and 68,000 hectares land area. There are two forestry concessions in the area owned by two logger companies.

According to WALHI (Indonesian Forum for Environment), the problem is essentially the destruction of forests in the upstream region of the area. It is similar to flash floods that occurred elsewhere in Indonesia for the last few years. In the last six months alone, there were 9 flash floods that happened because of the change in forest function into palm oil, mining or timber industries. Wasior flash flood was special because it had such a high number of casualties.

WALHI Disaster Desk Manager Irhash Ahmady says that they suspect the two companies are partly responsible for the Wasior disaster. WALHI also suspect that there has been encroachment of forest in the area of Mount Wondiboi Mountain Forest Reserve. In addition, illegal logging is also done by timber barons who exploit KOPERMAS (Native Tribe Cooperation Program) loopholes.

Irhash says that these assumptions were not unfounded, WALHI network monitoring in the field discovers hundreds of logs of wood with mud and boulders scattered throughout the Wasior I, Wasior II, Rado, Moru, Maniwak, Manggurai, Wondamawi, and Wondiboy. This proves that the destruction of the region upstream forests was the main cause, continued Irhash.

WALHI urged the Government to seriously investigate this case, because this is not a mere natural phenomenon. The old style of rescuing the people without fixing the underlying problem (of forestry) does not work anymore.
WALHI urged the Government to conduct an evaluation of both companies. If there is abuse of concessions, then these companies licensing should be immediately revoked. The Government should also immediately conduct environmental audits related to forest industries in Indonesia.

This disaster is a direct result of Government negligence, the Government never assesses and study seriously on the effect of forestry concession industry in Indonesia, continued Irhash. This condition is also shows the State / Government inadequacy in providing a safe and healthy life for its citizens.

Forest policy must by changed by evaluating and promoting the forestry policy that takes into account the sustainability aspects of natural resources