Huntap For Palu Earthquake Victims Submerged By Floods, City Government Will Regulate River Flow Diverted For Development

The Palu City Government inspected the permanent residential complex (huntap) for victims of the Palu earthquake, which was affected by flooding on Sunday, July 31. (ANTARA/HO-Humas Palu City Government)

PALU - At least 40 permanent housing (huntap) victims of the earthquake in Palu, Central Sulawesi (Sulteng) in the Tondo Village were affected by flooding. Flooding due to heavy rains with high intensity since Sunday July 1st. "There is a natural flow that is our concern and it takes time to handle it, when it rains the water overflows into the shelter area, we are currently cleaning the mud material in the residential area," said the mayor. Palu Hadianto Rasyid when inspecting the flood in the Tondo shelter, quoted from Antara, Sunday, July 1. He explained that the floods that hit the area did not last long, because of the slope position so that heavy water flowed to a lower place. In order to provide a sense of security for local residents, the City Government Palu is temporarily taking countermeasures by deploying a number of related technical agencies to avoid further flooding. Meanwhile, for the medium and long-term efforts, the Palu City Government is carrying out building control.

The decision was based on a review of the source of the flood that submerged the shelter for victims of the Palu earthquake, it was found that the flow of the Vatu Tela River into the sea was diverted for development purposes by certain parties.

The control measures are considered appropriate, because if it rains with heavy intensity, the main target for the overflow is the huntap area. Hadianto said. He stated that the flood did not affect the quality of clean water in the shelter, because it did not use PDAM connections. "The availability of clean water in the shelter is safe," Hadianto added. Erfandi, a resident of the Tondo shelter, said that it was the second time that flooding had hit the area, which was triggered by heavy rains. Some residents even started packing up to evacuate temporarily to a safe place or to relatives' homes, because worried about further flooding. "Heavy rains with a long duration trigger flooding, this is based on previous experience," said Erfandi. Currently the Palu City Government has deployed a team to clean up the remaining mud material in people's houses and roads.