Floods As High As Genteng In Mahakam Ulu Have Not Receded, Regency Government Sets Emergency Response Status

MAHAKAM ULU - Mahakam Ulu Regency Government (Pemkab), East Kalimantan (Kaltim), has declared a flood disaster emergency response status until May 29, in order to accelerate disaster management and the evacuation process of affected residents.

"We have decided to set an emergency response decree directed by the Regent so that he can move quickly to deal with this flood disaster, starting from May 14 to 14 days in the future," said Head of the Mahakam Ulu Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Agus Darmawan as quoted by ANTARA, Friday, May 17.

Agus explained that the flood that submerged the tip of the East Kalimantan region was caused by high rainfall. So far, the water has not subsided due to a number of sub-districts being hit by further flooding.

"The flood had receded and it turned out that afternoon it rose again. Because the level of rain in Hulu Mahakam was very high, so (it happened) aftershocks, almost 70 percent were affected," he said.

He also said the water level reached the roof of a resident's house. Even one of the harbor's raft houses was swept away by the swift current of the river.

"There is a house that wants to be washed away, if the raft house has indeed been washed away because the Mahakam river flow is indeed very heavy, so it is very risky to use water transportation, BPBD offices, several OPDs, and schools are also affected," said Agus.

BPBD Mahakam Ulu has also established a refugee post centered on a church in Ujoh Bilang Village, Long Bagun District. However, the location is not enough to accommodate the affected residents.

"There are already (refugees) this refugee house, it's not enough anymore, we will add it with ordinary tents. In the church area, we will also install public tents," he said.

Until now, the impact of the flood has not been detailed, both residents displaced and houses affected. He reasoned that his party was still focused on evacuating.

"The staff are still struggling to find a place. Yesterday we rushed to take the mat because yesterday the mat we provided was not enough for 50, so take more mats. Approximately 200 to 300 people (refuge), that's one village Ujoh just say," he said.

BPBD spread personnel to affected areas to conduct assessments. According to Agus, the locations affected are far from each other.

"Because these villages are far apart, BPBD can only cover the district capital. We leave other areas to the general administrators of each sub-district," said Agus.

Floods submerged five sub-districts in Mahakam Ulu. The flood initially hit Long Apari District on Monday (13/5), then spread to four other sub-districts on Tuesday (14/5).

"So in Mahakam Ulu there are five sub-districts. In Long Apari it has started to recede, but today it has an impact on ill-fated sub-districts such as Long Pahangai, Long Bagun, Laham, and Long Humung in turns," he said.