Rainfall Continues To Be High, Flood-affected Victims In Southeast Aceh Increase

Acting Regent of Southeast Aceh Syakir together with the Southeast Aceh Forkopomda handed over panic assistance for flood-affected victims in Southeast Aceh, Saturday (19/8/2023). (Doc. BETWEEN/HO-BPBD Southeast Aceh)

The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) this Saturday said the number of flood victims triggered by high rainfall in Southeast Aceh Regency increased to 2,859 people in 661 families (KK) from the previous 1,352 people in 338 families spread across five sub-districts.

"The number of flood victims has increased and the latest condition is that some locations are still inundated," said BPBA Chief Executive Ilyas through the BPBA Disaster Management Operations Control Center (Pusdalops PB) in Banda Aceh, Saturday.

He explained that the flood of overflowing river water discharge in Southeast Aceh had occurred since Thursday (17/8) at around 21.09 WIB.

This flood incident occurred due to the high intensity of rainfall in Southeast Aceh, causing the Kinga River embankment in Lawe Sumur District to burst and causing water to overflow into the roads and houses of residents.

According to him, a number of houses were still submerged, road access could not be passed because the water was still inundated on the road, the obstruction of the Kuta Buluh Village bridge, the breakdown of the Lawe Kinga River embankment and the breakdown of the Lawe Alas River embankment in Pedesi Village.

"Then SD Negeri 2 Lawe Hijo was submerged, the Lawe Hijo Village mosque and Pinding Village were muddy and damaged about 350.5 hectares of rice fields and also damaged about 53 hectares of corn," he said.

The areas affected by the flood were nine gampongs in Bambel District, four gampongs in Lawe Sumur District, two gampongs in Semedam District, six gampongs in Bukit Tusam District, and one gampong in Pulonas Baru District.

According to him, the Southeast Aceh BPBD has deployed a rapid reaction team to the scene to collect data, monitor and deploy a heavy equipment unit to help deal with disasters.

In addition, he said, the Acting Regent of Southeast Aceh Syakir and the Southeast Aceh Forkopimda had also visited the flood locations and handed over panic assistance.

"There are 115 packages of panic assistance distributed in the form of rice, sugar, blankets, sarongs, instant noodles, ready-to-eat food and bread," he said.

Previously, quoted from ANTARA, Saturday afternoon, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to residents of Aceh Province to be aware of the potential for floods and landslides triggered by high rainfall and strong winds in the next few days.

"Be aware of potential hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides, strong winds, and others due to heavy rains," said BMKG Class I forecaster Sultan Iskandar Muda Aceh Besar Stya Juangga Dirta.