Three Villages In The Prospective National Capital Are Flooded

Photo: Flood conditions that hit Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser Regency, East Kalimantan Province on Friday (BNPB)

JAKARTA - Floods hit three villages in Sepaku District, North Penajam Paser (PPU) Regency, East Kalimantan Province. As is known, Penajam Paser Utara is a candidate for the State Capital (IKN).

Plt. Head of BNPB Disaster Data and Communication Center Abdul Muhari revealed that the flooding that had hit since last Friday, December 17 was caused by the high intensity of rain and accompanied by high tides (ROB).

"The ROB has stopped river water that should have flowed into the sea and overflowed into residential areas in Bukit Raya Village, Sukaraja Village and Sepaku Village," said Abdul Muhari in his statement, Monday, December 20.

Abdul Muhari revealed that the flood event lasted for about 1 to 2 hours, then immediately receded following the ebb and flow of sea water.

"The characteristics of the flood disaster in Sepaku Sub-district are that the flood will not last long or in other words the flood will recede soon, the water level will soon fall along with the lowering of the sea water," he said.

At the time of the incident, the District Disaster Management Agency. PPU together with TNI/Polri, PUPR Service, Social Service, PMI, Community and related OPD immediately went to the location to carry out evacuation, monitoring and data collection.

Based on the latest report from the BNPB Pusdalops, the flooding in three villages in North Penajam Paser affected 101 families and 101 houses and 1 prayer room were flooded.

Furthermore, Abdul Muhari reminded that there is a tidal forecast from the Sultan Aji Muhammad Sulaiman Sepinggan-Balikpapan Class I Meteorological Station for the period from 15 to 23 December 2021. It is estimated that the maximum tide height is between 2.6 meters to 2.8 meters.

"BNPB appeals to the community, it is hoped that the community can prepare themselves by increasing preparedness, among others by understanding evacuation routes and areas that are safer from flooding," he added.