Five Areas In West Sumatra Hit By Floods Due To High Rainfall

Floods have hit some areas in West Sumatra due to high rainfall since Monday (23/1). (ANTARA/BPBD West Sumatra)

PADANG - Five areas in West Sumatra were hit by floods and landslides due to high rainfall which flushed from Monday (23/1) afternoon to Tuesday (24/1) early morning.

"There are five regions that have reported disaster incidents respectively in Agam, Padang Pariaman, Padang and Pesisir Selatan, and Mentawai. Until this morning the local regional BPBD personnel continue to monitor the situation," said the Chief Executive of the West Sumatra BPBD Jumaidi in Padang as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, January 24.

No fatalities were reported from the disaster but one person is still missing in Nagari Anduriang, Padang Pariaman.

"Until last night one person whose house was buried in a landslide in Padang Pariaman is still missing. We will continue to monitor and update this data later," he said.

The people affected by the floods last night also had to flee to higher ground because they were worried that the water would continue to rise to their settlements, but this morning most of them have returned to their homes.

Due to heavy rainfall, landslides also closed access to the Solok-Padang road in Lubuk Kilangan, Monday, January 23 afternoon. The joint team used heavy equipment to clean up the landslide material late into the night. Currently, the access road can be passed again.

The Padang-Pesisir Selatan road access was also cut off due to landslides and fallen trees that crossed the road. But this morning everything was able to go back through.

Communities, especially those in areas prone to flooding and landslides, are asked to remain vigilant because bad weather still has the potential to occur.

"Regarding this disaster, the W Sumatra BPBD continues to coordinate with the district/city BPBD. If at any time it is needed, provincial BPBD personnel will immediately go to the area," he said.