PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. GARUT - In the early hours of Friday morning (1/12/2023), at 01.39, it was reported that landslides had occurred at a number of points in Banjarwangi District, Garut Regency. The Head of Banjarwangi Subdistrict, Bambang Hernowo, conveyed this information to the Garut Regency Communication and Information Service (Diskominfo) Team.

According to Bambang, landslides occurred in 8 locations, including Lawang Angin, Tanjung Jaya Village and Ciawitali Village. A 15 meter long road was affected in Lawang Angin, while in Ciawitali, a 6 meter long road was affected. Meanwhile in Burujul Village, Banjarwangi Village, the access road was buried by the remains of landslides.

"(Later) three telephone poles were found in Cikondang Village, Wangunjaya Village, which had collapsed and their cables hit the road, then there was ground movement in the yards of residents' houses in Ciawitali Village, 2 covered village roads in Patrol Village, Tanjungjaya Village, 1 half of the village road in Singkur Village. "Mulyajaya, as well as houses belonging to residents of Cilogawa Village, Mulyajaya Village," explained Bambang.

He revealed that specifically for main road traffic, especially in the Lawang Angin area, lanes were temporarily opened and closed, because it was feared that further landslides would occur, due to the weight of vehicles passing through that lane.

Temporary estimates, said Bambang, were that the landslides occurred due to the fairly high intensity of rain in several areas.

"Based on our monitoring and information obtained from witnesses, it is estimated that a landslide occurred on the road at 01.30 WIB (early morning), the cause and effect of the landslide occurred due to the intensity of the rain which was quite heavy and occurred overnight without stopping," he added.

The Garut Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) team has carried out field checks. Bambang also mentioned coordination with the Garut Regency Public Works Spatial Planning Service (PUPR), because one of the affected roads had just been completed.

"BPBD has checked the field, and is coordinating PUPR for construction that has just been completed and will follow up because it is still maintaining information from the PPK," he added.

Bambang appealed to road users who will cross Banjarwangi-Singajaya to always be careful, because there are several points affected by landslides.

"And stay alert if there are further landslides on roads or residential areas," he concluded.