Floods in Singkawang Haven't Receded, Forcing Dozens of Residents to Evacuate

PONTIANAK - Floods have forced 21 families consisting of 81 people to flee at flood posts in the Condong Village area, Singkawang Tengah District, Singkawang City, West Kalimantan Province.

According to the Head of the Community Empowerment Section of the Condong, Arkadia, Urban Village Government in Singkawang, Thursday, residents who were displaced by the floods included 42 adults, three elderly residents, four babies, nine toddlers and 23 children.

"Residents who are displaced are residents of Gang RDKS, Condong Village", he said.

He said that the sub-district administration, with assistance from the Disaster Preparedness Cadets and the Singkawang Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), is preparing public kitchens to help residents displaced by the floods that have occurred since Tuesday, January 31.

"We are preparing everything that is needed", he said.

Among the residents who took refuge in the Condong Urban Village flood post was Wenti, whose house was inundated by the flood.

"The water has been rising since Wednesday, February 1 afternoon yesterday. I immediately evacuated to the command post", he said, adding, "Hopefully it will recede quickly, so we can go home."

Head of BPBD Singkawang Edi Prawoko said that the flood inundated residents' settlements in several sub-districts, including Bukit Batu, Sungai Garam Hilir, Condong and Pasiran sub-districts.

"These areas are inundated because the movement of water is very slow", said Edi.

According to him, the height of the inundation in the Gatam Hilir River area ranges from 50 cm to one meter.

He said that some of the residents affected by the floods were staying in their homes, but some chose to flee to relatives' houses or places prepared by the government, such as residents of the RDKS Gang in Condong Village.