Floods Hit North Morowali, 41 Victims Evacuated To Safe Places

The joint SAR team evacuated flood-affected residents in Tompira Village, North Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi using a rubber boat, Saturday (8/4/2023). (DOC. ANTARA)

JAKARTA - 41 flood victims in North Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi Province, according to the National SAR Agency (Basarnas) have been evacuated by the joint SAR team to a safer place on Saturday.

"The evacuation uses rubber boats at certain points because the water conditions are getting higher. Floods occur in Tompira village, West Petasa sub-district," said Head of Operations Section of the Search and Rescue SAR Office or Basarnas Palu Andi Sultan in Palu.

He explained that the evacuation of residents was carried out by a joint SAR team consisting of personnel from the Morowali SAR Post, TNI/Polri, the local Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) and other potential SAR.

Of the 41 victims who were evacuated, 27 people were from Hamlet 4 and 14 people from Hamlet 1 Tompira Village. From SAR activities, it is prioritized for vulnerable groups, namely the elderly, women and children.

"The flood has been going on for three days since Thursday (5/4). The current condition is reported that water is still inundating residential areas, and currently the rain is still pouring down the North Morowali region," he said, quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, April 8.

Secretary of BPBD North Morowali Delvia Parenta said the floods that occurred in the district submerged seven villages, namely Tompira, Bunta, Ulula'a, Togo, Sampalowo, Moleono and Onepute villages in Petasan Barat District.

Reportedly, the water level has reached 70 centimeters and the affected residents have been evacuated to a safer place, this condition was triggered by heavy rains that continued to flush North Morowali causing river water to overflow into residential areas.

"The local Regional Government (Pemda) has established posts in each village, and the Regent, the last three days in the field monitoring the flood situation with a number of related agencies," he said.

From that incident, it was reported that there were no casualties. The local government has also carried out health services at the evacuation posts, including clean water services to residents.

"Three public facilities consisting of houses of worship were flooded, including four schools being affected," he explained.