Floods In Palangka Raya Expand, BPBD Establishs 3 Refugee Posts

Photo via Antara.

The Palangka Raya City Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has established and alerted three field posts related to flood alert conditions in the local city.

"Currently, three flood preparedness Posts have been established on Pelatuk Street, Arut Street and Ahmad Yani Street," said Head of the Palangka Raya City BPBD Emergency Section, Heru Trimono in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan, quoted from Antara, Thursday, November 17.

Currently available facilities such as refugee tents, public kitchens, public toilets to health workers from the Health Service and volunteers.

"From Wednesday night, 22 refugees have been evacuated to the Poslap Jalan Arut. The refugees consisted of 11 adults, three elderly, four children and four toddlers," he said.

He also estimated that the number of refugees would increase again as there was still a request for evacuation from residents whose houses continued to be affected by the flood.

However, he continued, some residents in the "City of Beauty" who were affected by flooding sent by overflowing river water chose to flee at relatives' homes.

In the midst of the accident, the Langkai Village together with Babinsa and Bhabinkamtibmas as well as students of the Real Work Lecture (KKN) distributed approximately 200 packs of food to the people of Flamboyan Bawah, Palangka Raya who were affected by the flood.

"We prioritize the elderly. Each house gets two packs of rice. This food supply is the result of self-help cooperation from various parties. Hopefully this can ease the burden on flood victims," said Lurah Langkai Sriwanti.

Based on BPBD Palangka Raya data as of November 17, a number of sub-districts began to be affected by flooding due to the overflowing of large rivers that crossed Palangka Raya City.

It was recorded that 1,733 houses, 2,388 families and 8,544 people were affected by the flood of water in the Kahayan Watershed (DAS) and Rungan watersheds.

Head of BPBD Palangka Raya City Emi Abriyani asked the public, especially in low areas and in riverbank areas, to increase awareness of an increase in water level.

Moreover, he continued, based on information from BMKG until the beginning of next year, it still has the potential to flush a number of Central Kalimantan areas including Gunung Mas Regency and Palangka Raya City.

Gunung Mas Regency is an area that is the upstream river whose flow crosses the Palangka Raya City area.

"Yang tidak kalah penting, seiring dengan meningkatnya curah hujan dan tinggi debit air, masyarakat juga diminta memantau instalasi listrik yang dimiliki, agar tidak terjadi hal yang tidak diinginkan saat banjir tiba," tandasnya.