Jakarta (ANTARA) – The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said flood management efforts in Semarang City, Central Java, have shown positive progress following a series of coordinated technical measures taken by multiple agencies over the past week.BNPB Deputy for Emergency Response Budi Irawan stated that water levels have started to recede in several parts of the city, particularly in the northern areas.“Thank God, all planned actions have now been carried out. Additional pumps have been installed, guarded, and monitored. Improvements in the downstream sector are ongoing. We even conducted weather modification operations using two aircraft,” he said in a statement received on Sunday.He noted that improving the drainage channel of the Terboyo retention pond was a key focus due to its vital role in holding runoff from nearby residential areas.BNPB reported that the Terboyo retention pond’s drainage system had been one of the contributing factors to the flooding in Semarang City, especially in the Semarang Sea Toll construction area.Irawan said the agency had deployed additional portable water pumps at several points and intensified monitoring to ensure operations run optimally.“Water levels have started to drop by about 65 centimeters. Kaligawe Road is now accessible for motorcycles,” he added.According to him, all technical measures were carried out through close coordination with the local government, the National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), and volunteers to ensure a swift emergency response while prioritizing residents’ safety.Meanwhile, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, who visited the flood-hit areas with the BNPB team and Central Java Governor Ahmad Luthfi, expressed appreciation for the joint efforts of all parties involved in managing the floods.He emphasized that the ongoing flood response should serve as a momentum to strengthen institutional collaboration in accelerating the social and economic recovery of affected communities.
BNPB highlights positive results of Semarang flood management
