13 Villages In Nunukan, North Kalimantan Submerged By Floods

TARAKAN - A total of 13 villages in Sembakung and Sembakung Atula sub-districts, Nunukan district, North Kalimantan, were flooded due to overflowing rivers bordering Sabah, Malaysia.

"Currently, the water debit is 4.7 meters high and 13 villages in the two sub-districts are under water," said Sembakung Police Chief Ipda Isak Panggala as quoted by Antara, Thursday, January 6.

Villages that are submerged in water in Sembakung District are Tagul, Roof, Manuk Bungkul, Lubakan, Tujung, Pagar and Labuk villages.

Meanwhile, in the Sembakung Atulai sub-district, the villages are Pulau Keras, Liuk Bulu, Binanun, Sabuluan, Lubok Create and Katul.

"The worst-hit village is Roof Village, where 123 houses were flooded," said Isak.

Sembakung Police conduct patrols consisting of two shifts, where one shift consists of five police personnel who go around the village by boat.

"Our goal is to carry out this patrol to collect data on residents whose houses are submerged in water as well as directly help residents affected by the flood," said the Sector Police Chief.

Officials from the Sembakung Police when patrolling using ships, apart from distributing logistics, also gave advice to residents to secure valuables.

He revealed that currently he has coordinated with the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Nunukan Regency by establishing an aid post.

"Currently the logistics for residents for the next three days are sufficient," he said.