Project News

the inside of Mt. Bawakaraeng’s caldera, the center back is the collapsed east caldera wall in 2004

From December 10th to 11th, the SABO investigation was conducted at Mt. Bawakaraeng　which located in the uppermost reach of the Jeneberang River, South Sulawesi province, in Sulawesi Island.

At Mt. Bawakaraeng, on March, 26th in 2004, 32 people became casualties of mudflow because its caldera walls collapsed and the mudflow traveled as far as villages which located 2.5 kilometers downstream. The later rainfalls generated debris flow repeatedly, buried farmlands, and damaged traffic roads which cross river channels. Also, it is feared that the functions of Bili-Bili Multi-Purpose Dam which locates 35 kilometers downstream from the caldera collapse point may be undermined due to the flow of debris from the collapse, and the accompanying deterioration in water quality.

At the area, Urgent Disaster Reduction Project for Mt. Bawakaraeng has been implemented with JICA’s ODA Loan. This project is rehabilitating existing infrastructures (including bridges), and establishing SABO facilities and a debris flow warning system. This will promote the protection of human life and public and private property from debris flows. By preventing further sediment flow from the disaster area, the project will improve functions of the dam which located the downstream.Thus the project is expected to be contributing to the maintenance of social and economic activities in Makassar, the provincial capital of Southern Sulawesi, and the surrounding area through the stable supply of dam water to the city and surrounding area.

Still large volume of unstable sediments deposited inside of Mt. Bawakaraeng’s caldera. Also many collapses can be found at the banks along a deep valley.