BPBD Bintan Establishes Public Kitchen To Help Hundreds Of Residents Affected By Floods

BPBD Bintan distributed logistical assistance for flood-affected victims in Toapaya District, Sunday (5/3/2023). (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Bintan Regency)

BINTAN - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Bintan Regency, Riau Islands Province (Kepri) has established a public kitchen to help hundreds of victims affected by flooding in a number of local sub-districts. "Rainfall with moderate to heavy intensity continues to flush almost all areas of Bintan Island, resulting in several sub-district points experiencing flooding with varying water levels," said Head of BPBD Bintan Ramlah quoted from Antara, Sunday, March 5. According to Ramlah, until now in the East Bintan District, three public kitchen points have been established using local community homes. Basic ingredients such as rice, cooking oil, sugar, coffee, instant noodles and so on have also been distributed to affected houses. Other areas, such as North Bintan District, have also been established several refugee tents from the social service, which are currently also overcoming the impact of flooding in the Gunung Kijang and Toapaya sub-districts. Based on data in the field, said Ramlah, so far more than 50 families with more than 200 people have been victims of flooding. The initial action of the Bintan Regency Government through the BPBD directly, namely going to the field to collect data on the community and carrying out initial evacuations as needed. "The latest information is that some of our residents have not been evacuated, they temporarily live in neighboring and relatives' homes, especially in Kampung Pisang. In essence, we are still monitoring the development of weather and tides, public kitchens have been prepared, logistics have also been distributed," said Ramlah. Ramlah continued, the current condition is that there are residents' houses whose water has not subsided after being hit by the flood. It continues to carry out continuous monitoring of residents affected by the flood. "It is hoped that firefighters will be deployed to help suck up the remaining puddles of water in the houses while cleaning them," said Ramlah. Meanwhile, Tanjungpinang BMKG Station predicts heavy rainfall accompanied by lightning and strong winds will still have the potential to hit Bintan Island until March 7, 2023. Residents are also asked to be aware of the potential for high waves in the North-Eastern waters of Bintan Island which can reach 3.5 meters. "Be aware of the occurrence of floods or puddles due to soil conditions that have been saturated due to high rainfall in the last few days," said Tanjungpinang BMKG forecaster, Hayu Nur Mahron. He explained that the cause of extreme weather in Tanjungpinang City and Bintan Regency (Bintan Island) is currently triggered by a borneo vortex in the Karimata Strait, causing wind turns and a slowdown in the air mass in the Bintan Island area and its surroundings. One of the impacts is increasing the potential for rain cloud growth. In addition, he said, disturbances in the form of kelvin and rossby equatorial waves that were active around Bintan Island also caused increased rain cloud growth activity in the area. "Therefore, the last few days have been predicted until March 7, 2023, the frequency of rain on Bintan Island is high," he said.