BPBA: Dozens of Residents' Houses Are Submerged by Floods in Lhokseumawe

The flood that submerged residents' houses in Blang Mangat District, Lhokseumawe City, Tuesday (4/10/2022). (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Lhokseumawe)

BANDA ACEH - The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) said as many as 40 residential units in Lhokseumawe City were inundated by floods triggered by high-intensity rainfall in the area.

"The latest condition until now the water has not receded", said BPBA Chief Executive Ilyas through a statement from the Data and Information Center (Pusdatin) in Banda Aceh, reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, October 5.

He explained that the flood, with water levels ranging from 40 centimeters to 1 meter, began to inundate the houses of Lhokseumawe residents on Tuesday, October 4.

The flood event was due to high rainfall that flushed the Lhokseumawe City area, and the river water overflowed in North Aceh, causing floods that inundated people's houses.

The affected areas include five gampongs or villages in Blang Mangat District, including Gampong Asan Kareung, Mane Kareung, Blang Weu Baroh, Punti Matangkuli, and Gampong Blang Buloh.

The Lhokseumawe BPBD has dispatched a rapid reaction team (TRC) to monitor and collect data on victims affected by the flood.

"There are 40 houses that have been submerged, and 40 families have been affected and data collection is still ongoing. For now, there is one family who has to evacuate to the local prayer room,” he said.

In addition, BPBA also reported flooding in Blang Seunong Village, Pante Bidari District, East Aceh Regency on Wednesday, October 5.

The flood was also triggered by heavy rains that flushed the East Aceh Regency, causing floods that inundated people's homes.

“The material impact, affected victims and refugees due to this incident are still being collected. The last condition is that the water is still stagnant", he said.

Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) said that Aceh had entered the rainy season, so residents were asked to be aware of natural disasters in the form of floods and landslides.

"People remain alert to floods, landslides, and strong winds because Aceh has entered the rainy season", said BMKG Class I Aceh Data and Information Coordinator Zakaria Ahmad.

Several areas in Indonesia's westernmost province have the potential to experience moderate to heavy rain, accompanied by lightning and strong winds.

Among them are Aceh Besar, Banda Aceh, Aceh Jaya, Pidie, Pidie Jaya, North Aceh, Simeulue, Aceh Singkil, Subulussalam, Sabang, Aceh Tamiang, Langsa, Gayo Lues, Southeast Aceh, Nagan Raya, Southwest Aceh, West Aceh and East Aceh.