34,060 North Aceh Flood Victims Refuge in 28 Points

Illustration - Floods have inundated residential areas in North Aceh Regency, Aceh Province, since Tuesday (4/10/2022). ANTARA/HO-BPBD North Aceh

BANDA ACEH - The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) said that the number of flood victims who had fled in North Aceh Regency, Aceh continued to increase, as of Thursday, October 6 afternoon. It was recorded that 34,060 people were displaced in 28 evacuation locations.

"To date, there are 28 points of refuge for flood victims in North Aceh", said BPBA Chief Executive Ilyas in a statement from the Data and Information Center in Banda Aceh, reported by ANTARA, Thursday, October 6.

Floods with a height of up to one meter began to hit several areas of North Aceh on Tuesday, October 4. The flood event was triggered by high-intensity rainfall that hit the local district in recent days.

"Heavy rains that flushed the North Aceh Regency caused floods that inundated the houses and rice fields of residents", he said.

Temporary data from BPBA shows that 12 sub-districts were flooded, namely Paya Bakong sub-district as many as 7 villages or villages, Lhoksukon 18 villages, Matangkuli 26 villages, Pirak Timu 23 villages, Samudera 8 villages, Cot Girek two villages.

Furthermore, there are 4 villages in Tanah Luas Subdistrict, Stepan 1 village, Dewantara 7 villages, Muara Batu 7 villages, as well as Nisam and Geuredong sub-districts which are still in the process of collecting data on affected villages.

The total number of displaced victims recorded was 34,060 in 9,540 families (KK). Officers are continuing to collect data in the sub-districts of Stepan, Dewantara, Nisam, Muara Batu, and Gereudong Pase.

"A total of approximately 20 villages have evacuated their residents to village mushola (prayer room) and built a public kitchen in the mushola of each village", said Ilyas.

In addition to submerging residents' houses, Ilyas said, the flood also affected the community's rice fields with an area of ​​about 230 hectares. It is estimated that the rice fields will fail to harvest.

Until now, the North Aceh BPBD has continued to carry out mitigation efforts, by continuing to coordinate with village and sub-district officials as well as collecting data on materials and victims affected by floods.

BPBA has also started distributing aid during the panic period for flood victims in North Aceh.

"The latest condition is that in some locations the water is starting to recede", said Ilyas.

In addition to North Aceh, BPBA also recorded flood events in East Aceh and Aceh Tamiang districts, but the affected victims are still in the data collection.

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.

Several potential areas include the districts of 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.