Indonesia: Sulawesi engulfed by floods, thousands evacuated

The Jakarta Post 10 Jun 19;

Floods in three provinces in Sulawesi have forced thousands of people to flee their houses for higher ground.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesperson of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) revealed that 4,198 people in North Konawe regency in Southeast Sulawesi had been evacuated to safer areas.

"Asera district is the worst effected, with 13 of its villages inundated. Seventy two houses have been washed away, while thousands of other houses are inundated and hundreds of hectares of rice fields, corn fields and fish ponds have been damaged," Sutopo said in a press release made available to The Jakarta Post Monday.

Besides areas in Southeast Sulawesi, he said the floods that began at the beginning of June following torrential downpours had also left villages in South Sulawesi and Central Sulawesi under water.

The local disaster mitigation agency (BPBD) has documented damages to public facilities such as bridges, roads, houses of prayer and health facilities.

In neighboring Konawe regency, a 4-month old baby died during the flood, although the BPBD is still investigating whether the death was caused by the flood.

Meanwhile, the BNPB also said 1,452 families had been affected by the floods and 200 houses had been inundated in South Sulawesi, with 3,676 hectares of rice fields destroyed in 15 villages.

In Central Sulawesi, 561 families in Lele and Dampala villages were evacuated after floods damaged a bridge and inundated 45 houses.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned of the potential for heavy rainfall in Sumatra, Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua between June 11 and 15. (gis/jun)

North Konawe flood victims eagerly await assistance
Antara 10 Jun 19;

North Konawe District Head Ruksamin (in white t-shirt) delivered assistance directly to victims of flood in the region on Monday (10/6/2019). (ANTARA)

Kendari, SE Sulawesi (ANTARA) - Several thousand flood victims in North Konawe District, Southeast Sulawesi, are in dire need of assistance from various parties, both the government and private sector, to placate their distress.

North Konawe District Head Ruksamin stated when contacted directly from North Konawe on Monday that urgent assistance in the form of blankets, food, readymade food, clean water, and children's clothing was urgently needed for flood victims in their area.

"What is certain is that residents seeking assistance are mainly for victims living in isolated areas, such as Asera, Oheo, Landawe, Langgikima, and Wiwirano sub-districts," he revealed.

Ruksamin expressed gratitude to the National Disaster Management Agency for disbursing funds worth Rp500 million to handle flood victims in its area that was led and handed over directly by Head of BNPB TNI Lieutenant General Doni Monardo after reviewing and directly monitoring flood conditions since June 6, 2019.

The North Konawe district head remarked that in addition to cash aid, the BNPB's assistance comprised two cargo aircraft and helicopter, 12 ships, and 20 refugee tents for the evacuated flood victims and also distribution of logistics.

Ruksamin stated that the BNPB head was highly concerned over the flooding that had hit the area, thereby resulting in significant losses to the community.

"He and his staff have seen first-hand the condition of the flood victims after which facilities, energy, and material assistance were promptly offered to this area," he noted.

Ruksamin confirmed that the current focus was on rescuing residents in isolated areas, while aid comprising food and clothing had continued to gradually trickle in.

The North Konawe BPBD had earlier reported that 13 villages affected by floods in the area were Tambakua, Langgiwo, Polora Indah, Sabandete, Mopute, Longeo, Tapuwatu, Walalindu, Alawanggudu, Puuwanggudu, Labungga, Laronanga, and Lino Moio located in Langgikima District, Asera, Oheo, Landawe, Wiwirano, and Andowia.

The North Konawe region was inundated by floods following torrential rains that resulted in the rivers of Lalindu, Wadolo, and Wadambali overflowing.

A total of 17 houses incurred damage or were washed away by the floods, while 851 houses and three mosques were submerged. Moreover, flooding resulted in access being cut off to a connecting bridge as well as four elementary buildings and a high school.

Flooding in Samarinda affects thousands
The Jakarta Post 10 Jun 19;

Several areas in Samarinda city, East Kalimantan, remained flooded on Monday, forcing thousands to flee their homes to seek refuge. Flooding has been affecting the city since Sunday, hampering residents' activities and paralyzing parts of the city.

The flooding was triggered by a rise in water level at the Mahakam River, which flows along Samarinda city. The city lies along the river, 48 kilometer from the river’s mouth.

Heavy rains poured for several hours on Sunday morning, causing the water level to rise at Benanga Dam at the upstream of Karang Mumus River, the confluence of the Mahakam River.

The Samarinda administration has applied an emergency protocol for seven days to assist 10,300 people affected by the flooding

Even after the rain stopped, the water level in several points of the city such as Jl. Dr. Soetomo and Jl. Ahmad Yani remained high.

Samarinda city secretary Sugeng Chairuddin said people in Bengkuring, Griya Mukti, and Gunung Linggai had been the most affected.

People are being moved to safer ground by a team consisting of personnel from the Samarinda and East Kalimantan Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the police, military and volunteers.

Heavy traffic also occurred on Jl. PM. Noor due to the inundated roads. Many motorcycles broke down after the riders forced the vehicles to ride through the flooding. (gis/swd)


Flooding in Samarinda impacts lives of 20 thousand people
Antara 11 Jun 19;

Volunteers repair a three-wheeler vehicle that has been used to evacuate flood victims in Samarinda on Monday (11/6/2019). Antaranews Kaltim/M Ghofar

Samarinda, East Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A total of 20 thousand people are reeling under the impact of flooding that struck three sub-districts in Samarinda, East Kalimantan Province, over the past five days.

The three sub-districts of North Samarinda, Samarinda Ulu, and Sungai Pinang were affected by the flooding, Sugeng Chairuddin, secretary of the Samarinda municipality administration, remarked here on Tuesday.

Floodwaters, reaching over a meter in height, inundated several thousand homes in residential areas, such as Bengkuring, Griya Mukti, Temindung, and Gunung Lingai.

Flood victims were in dire need of instant food, clean water, blankets, clothing, baby diapers, sanitary napkins, and medicines, he noted.

The victims have put forth an appeal to the public to send relief aid, especially cooked food, a shortage of which has been experienced.