The flooding in West Java that caused landslides and killed at least 30 people remains a disaster scene with recovery work continuing. Chief of Organisation & International Affairs of ORARI, Gjellani J. Sutama YB1GJS said that early on September 21 after heavy rain fell and the Cimanuk River burst its banks, and soon after emergency communications began.

ORARI (Organisasi Amatir Radio Indonesia) is the IARU member society, and its Garut District set up the emergency station at a base camp for the worst hit area. Gjellani YB1GJS reports that it had an HF net on 7.110 MHz, with a VHF repeater for Operation and Coordination to support the government and search and rescue team.

The height of the drama included a report that two houses were buried by landslides, a mosque was destroyed, affecting thousands of homes with many of under water. About three dozen were injured and villages in the path of floodwaters were evacuated.

Among the work is looking for the 22 people who are still missing in the disaster area. The ORARI Garut District is waiting for further advice from the government but hopes the recovery phase will soon wind down as the flooding eases.

– Jim Linton VK3PC, Chairman IARU Region 3 Disaster Communications Committee.