JAKARTA (UCAN): Illegal gold mining was the primary cause of flash floods that inundated six subdistricts in Banten province, killing nine people and forcing more than 15,000 people to flee their homes, according to the Indonesian government.
The flooding in Banten struck on New Year’s Day.
Floods also hit Jakarta and its surrounding districts and towns on the same day, killing at least 67 people and displacing more than 200,000.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Banten floods damaged more than 1,000 houses and schools as well as 30 bridges in six subdistricts across Lebak district.
President Joko Widodo, who visited the area on January 7, blamed illegal gold mining for the deadly floods.
“I saw there were many areas stripped bare by deforestation and illegal mining,” he said. “I will not tolerate illegal gold mining because thousands of people have become victims.”
He called on local governments to put a stop to illegal mining activities.
Such activities have damaged a large part of Halimun Salak National Park in neighbouring West Java province, causing massive landslides and the Ciberang River to overflow, submerging valleys along a 40-kilometre stretch of the river, officials said.
“At least 33 landslides were detected along the Ciberang River and four smaller rivers,” said Siswoyo, head of Halimun Salak National Park. “It hampers distribution of aid material to people.”
Merah Johansyah Ismail, coordinator of environmental group Anti-Mining Networking (JATAM), said Widodo could find cracking down on illegal mining activities is not as easy as he might think.
Illegal mining does not happen without the strong backing of the military, police and local authorities, he said.
“Stiff prison sentences for all those involved are necessary if the government wants to protect the environment and prevent many more victims,” he told ucanews.
He said that last month nine people were buried alive at an illegal mining site.
According to Ismail, the miners also use mercury which during the floods pollutes large areas, endangering people’s health. He called on the government to pay attention not only to illegal mining activities in Banten province but also to mining in general in the country.
