West Sumatra Flood, West Pasaman BPBD Team Evacuates Residents

The joint West Pasaman BPBD team evacuated residents affected by the flood in Nagari Air Gadang Batang Saman, Friday. Antara/Altas Maulana.

The joint team from the West Pasaman Regency Disaster Management Agency, West Sumatra, evacuated residents affected by the flood due to overflowing water from the Batang Saman River.

"This morning the BPBD under the command of the Head of the Afrizal Emergency Division is evacuating flood-affected residents to a safer place," said Head of Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Division of the West Pasaman Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Zulkarnain at Simpang Empat as reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 14.

According to him, the flood that hit Nagari Aia Gadang Batang Saman submerged hundreds of houses and the access to Simpang Empat transportation to Ujung Gading was cut off.

"The data is that the submerged houses are still collecting data. However, we are evacuating the affected residents to a safe location," he said.

In addition, his party also helps residents who want to pass through roads that are still flooded.

"The water has started to recede. However, transportation access has not yet recovered. Big cars can cross the road slowly," he said.

The overflow of the Batang Saman River occurred on Friday night due to the continuous rain since Thursday (13/7) afternoon.

Currently, joint BPBD officers, sub-districts, SAR, the police and PMI have gone to the field to provide assistance in evacuating residents to safe places.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of Nagari Aia Gadang, Batang Saman Eka Putra, said that approximately 250 houses in the jorong Labuah Selangga and Pasir Bintungan were flooded.

"As many as 250 heads of families were affected by the flood in the Jorong Labuah Keluarga," he said.

There are many more houses that were flooded, But this morning the water has begun to recede.

"Hopefully the water recedes quickly and the vehicle can pass that road again," he hoped.