Ambon Floods As High As 1.5 Meters Recedes, BPBD Notifies 5 Houses With Potential Landslides

AMBON - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported that the floods that hit Ambon City, Maluku Province on Tuesday, July 26, are now starting to recede.

Acting Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari conveyed, based on information from the BNPB Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) as of Tuesday, July 26 at 17.00 eastern Indonesia time, access roads in Ambon City were already accessible by vehicles.

"The Ambon City BPBD continues to carry out emergency handling efforts by establishing coordination between units related to data collection and food distribution for affected residents," he said in a written statement, Thursday, July 28.

He revealed that high rainfall conditions and the collapse of the airport embankment triggered flooding that entered residential areas. This also resulted in landslides at several points.

He conveyed that the Ambon City BPBD recorded that as many as six housing units were affected, including five housing units with the potential for landslides.

In addition, there were 6 families consisting of 24 people affected in Laha Village, Teluk Ambon District, and Hattu Village in West Leihitu District.

"The flood had stopped the activities of the residents. Based on visual observations in the field, the water level was previously monitored up to 1.5 meters. Residents used ropes to help walk," he said.

Referring to early warning information from the BMKG on Thursday, July 28, the Ambon area still has the potential for light to moderate rain accompanied by lightning.

Following up on this information, he said, BNPB appealed to the community and local regional officials to increase awareness and preparedness for potential hydrometeorological disasters.

He asked the community and local officials to take preparedness steps by cleaning the river basin area of various materials that hinder the flow of water, monitoring the increase in water discharge when it rains for a long time and following the instructions of the local authorities in the flood emergency response effort.