Indonesia: Overflowing dam kills at least 30 in South Sulawesi

REUTERS 24 Jan 19;

JAKARTA (Reuters) - An overflowing dam has killed at least 30 people in Indonesia and forced thousands to flee their villages, authorities said on Thursday. Twenty-five people are missing.

Indonesia’s disaster mitigation agency has set up temporary shelters and field kitchens for residents fleeing floodwaters over a meter high that inundated riverside settlements in South Sulawesi province, including in the provincial capital Makassar, on Wednesday and Thursday.

“So far we have found 30 people who drowned or were caught in landslides triggered by heavy rains and when the Bili-Bili dam started overflowing,” said agency official Hasriadi.

One major highway has been blocked, prompting authorities to deliver aid via helicopter, according to media.

Aerial images showed muddy brown water covering swaths of lands and, in some areas, rushing water washing away houses and debris.

Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands and frequently suffers natural disasters.

Reporting by Kanupriya Kapoor; Editing by Nick Macfie


Death toll of South Sulawesi flooding reaches 26
Antara 24 Jan 19

Flooding in South Sulawesi on Wednesday (23/1/2019) (istimewa)

Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - The death toll from devastating floods and landslides that hit South Sulawesi Province climbed to 26, while 24 others were missing, on Thursday morning.

Of the total 26 casualties, 12 were found in Gowa, 10 in Jeneponto, and four in Maros, Syamsibar, head of the South Sulawesi disaster mitigation office (BPBD) said here.

The flooding hitting 10 districts and cities in the province, has affected 3,914 families, displaced 3,321 people, and caused 46 people to fall ill.

A joint rescue and search team comprising military, police, and local personnel, worked hard to find the missing people and evacuate displaced victims.

He felt relief that the flood waters subsided as rain began to wane.

The Makassar, Sungguhminasa and Malino roads, which were cut off by the disasters, were reopened.

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has ordered to dispatch logistics aid and rescue officers to six districts and a city in South Sulawesi Province hit by flash floods.

"The team has moved to the locations. Some 450 personnel will help the process to evacuate flood victims," he stated in Jakarta, on Wednesday.

The logistics aid worth Rp874,517,200 comprises food, beverages, blankets, kitchenware, and clothing, among other things.

Flash floods hit the districts of Gowa, Maros, Pangkep, Barru, Jeneponto, and Sopeng, as well as Makassar City, among others.

One hundred personnel were deployed in Gowa, 200 in Makassar, and 50 each in Pangkep and Barru. The ministry also deployed two rubber boats in Gowa and one in Makassar.

Gowa is the worst hit by flooding triggered by incessant heavy rains over the last two days. Jeneberang River, the longest river in South Sulawesi, also overflowed its bank.

Reporting by Abdul Kadir, fardah

Editor: Fardah Assegaf

Floods submerge South Sulawesi`s over 13 thousand hectares rice fields
Antara 24 Jan 19;

Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA News) - Flash floods submerged 13,792 hectares of rice fields in the districts of Maros and Gowa in South Sulawesi Province.

In Maros, a total of 8,332 hectares of rice fields were flooded, while 5,469 hectares in Gowa, Fitriani, head of the agriculture office of South Sulawesi, stated here, Wednesday.

"Hopefully, the floods would subside and not last for more than four days, so paddy plants will not be destroyed," she stated.

Flooding has affected farming areas in the sub-districts of Mandai, Maros, Tanralili, and Bantimurung in Maros District.

In Gowa, three sub-districts, including Bajeng and Parangloe, were inundated.

Meanwhile, Social Affairs Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita has ordered to dispatch logistics aid and rescue officers to six districts and a city in South Sulawesi Province hit by flash floods.

"The team has moved to the locations. Some 450 personnel will help the process to evacuate flood victims," he stated here, Wednesday.

The logistics aid worth Rp874,517,200 comprises food, beverages, blankets, kitchenware, and clothing, among other things.

Flash floods hit the districts of Gowa, Maros, Pangkep, Barru, Jeneponto, and Sopeng, as well as Makassar City.

One hundred personnel were deployed in Gowa, 200 in Makassar, and 50 each in Pangkep and Barru. The ministry also deployed two rubber boats in Gowa and one in Makassar.

Gowa is the worst hit by flooding triggered by incessant heavy rains over the last two days. Jeneberang River, the longest river in South Sulawesi, also overflowed its bank.

The floods displaced 2,121 residents of Gowa and some one thousand others in Makassar.

They are currently being accommodated in mosques and local government offices, among others.

Two public kitchens have been set up in Makassar and one in Gowa.

Reporting by Abdul Kadir, fardah

Editor: Fardah Assegaf