Central Kalimantan Katingan Floods Dam 25 Villages, 3,307 Affected Families Still Stay At Home

Residents of Tumbang Manggu Village, Katingan, Central Kalimantan, were flooded on Saturday, August 6, 2022. (ANTARA)

CENTRAL KALIMANTAN - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Katingan Regency in Central Kalimantan Province (Kalteng) has prepared tents for displaced flood victims.

"We have set up refugee tents in three places, such as in Taman Religi which is under the Katingan bridge in Kasongan City, Tumbang Runen Village, and Kereng Pakahi Village, Sujarjang Village, Kamipang District," said Head of BPBD Katingan Roby in Kasongan, Central Kalimantan, quoted from Antara, Wednesday, October 19.

According to him, not all residents affected by the flood used the tents provided by the local government. Some residents choose to stay in their homes.

"We will continue to activate refugee tents. In line with that, we also provide socialization, as well as appeals, so that flood-affected residents occupy refugee tents to avoid unwanted things," he said.

In addition to providing tents, Roby said, BPBD Katingan distributed clean water assistance to residents affected by the flood using tank cars.

The Katingan Regency Government has imposed a flood emergency response status from 7-20 October 2022 following floods that hit villages in its area.

"Until now, the flood has submerged 25 villages in four sub-districts and resulted in 3,307 families being affected by the flood," said Roby.

He added that floods hit villages in Katingan Hilir, Tasik Payawan, Kamipang, and Mendawai sub-districts.

Roby said that since early 2022 the district government has imposed flood emergency response status three times, namely in August, September, and October.

He appealed to residents to continue to be vigilant because according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) rain with high intensity which could cause flooding has the opportunity to flush the Katingan area.