Makassar Submerged By Floods 2 Meters, Mayor Sets Disaster Emergency

Makassar Mayor Ramdhan Pomanto visited the flood location in Block 10 of Perumnas Antang, Manggala District, Makassar City, South Sulawesi, and set an emergency response period until February 17, 2025.

This determination was made after the floods that hit the city were considered one of the worst in recent years.

"Yesterday I signed (the determination of the emergency response)," said Mayor Ramdhan Pomanto, Thursday, February 13.

According to him, this flood is very serious, even equivalent to a similar incident that occurred in 2018. "The speed of increase is extraordinary and does not gradually occur," he said.

Floods are still submerging a number of settlements in five sub-districts in Makassar City. As a result, 5,005 residents were forced to flee to 48 evacuation posts. Some residents chose to evacuate independently to relatives' homes that were safer from the impact of the flood.

One of the worst affected sub-districts is Manggala District. In this area, floods with varying heights between one and two meters still inundate settlements in Perumnas Antang Blok 8 and 10, with 2,211 people affected and 22 evacuation sites.

Mayor Ramdhan Pomanto walked through the houses of residents affected by the flood using rubber boats to ensure the health and needs of refugees. A number of assistance, both from the government and the private sector, has also been distributed to the evacuation post.

"The Ministry of Social Affairs has gone down, the director's mother immediately called me. Some were immediately distributed to refugees," added Ramdhan.

He revealed that the main cause of the flood this time was the opening of the Bili-Bili Dam and the impact of overflowing water from Maros Regency. Even so, Ramdhan emphasized that natural factors are not the only cause of flooding. Unsuitable spatial planning also contributes to the occurrence of repeated flooding in the area.

As a preventive measure, the mayor of Makassar stated that during his tenure, he had never allowed the construction of housing that did not meet good flood mitigation standards.

"Although flooding in the Antang area continues to be a concern, this is not only a matter of natural factors. Spatial planning also plays an important role. There used to be no houses here, no flooding.

"Once this area begins to be inhabited, flooding occurs," concluded Makassar Mayor Ramdhan Pomanto, who set an emergency response after the flood disaster.