Hundreds Of Houses In Wajo, South Sulawesi, Were Flooded

JAKARTA - The flood disaster has hit the Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi again. Hundreds of houses were flooded.

The Wajo Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) said that as many as 679 houses were flooded with a water level of 50 to 100 centimeters.

The flood was triggered by high rainfall intensity in the area and resulted in the overflow of the Walennae River and high water discharge from the upstream river which empties into Lake Tempe. As a result of this incident, five sub-districts in the administrative area of Wajo Regency were affected by flooding.

Plt. The Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center explained in a written statement that several flood points hit the five sub-districts, including Tempe District, Salomenraleng Village and Laelo Village, Pammana District, to be exact in Pallawarukka Village. Then Maniangpajo District, Anabanua Village, then Sabbangparu District, Tadangpalie Village, to be precise.

Finally, Takkalalla District, precisely in Soro Village. Based on a quick assessment of officers in the field, there were 490 heads of families (KK) or 1,560 affected people spread across the five sub-districts. However, until this news was released there had been no reports of residents who had fled.

In addition to submerging residents' houses, the flood also inundated other public facilities, such as six schools, four worship facilities, four health facilities and two local government offices. It was also recorded that 455 hectares of rice fields and 50 hectares of plantations owned by residents were affected.

BNPB continues to coordinate with the Wajo Regency BPBD to monitor data updates regarding the number of victims affected and material losses.

Wajo Regency has been hit by floods twice in the last one month. On Saturday, June 26, in Inalipue Village, there was also a flood disaster.

According to an InaRISK analysis study, the Wajo Regency area, South Sulawesi does have a moderate to high risk of flooding with a risk area of 106,609 hectares or around 14 sub-districts exposed.

With the extent of flood risk in the area, it is hoped that the local government can increase disaster preparedness and education for disaster mitigation to its citizens.