School Building In Banjarmasin Opened For Flood Victims Refugees

IDPs victims of floods in South Kalimantan (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - A number of school buildings were opened for flood victims in Banjarmasin City, South Kalimantan. This followed the increasing number of refugees on the fifth day of the flood.

Head of the Banjarmasin City Education Agency, Totok Agus Daryanto, has invited the school buildings to be opened to serve as shelters for flood victims.

"We have coordinated with the flood disaster management team from the start. Schools can be used to shelter flood refugees," said Totok in Banjarmasin, as reported by Antara, Monday, January 18.

According to him, schools that have been opened to accommodate flood victims include SDN Sungai Lulut 5, SDN Kelayan Tengah 4, SDN Pemurus Baru 2, SDN Sungai Bilu 3 and SMPN 20.

"Some teachers also fled to school because their houses were submerged," he explained.

He appreciated the residents who took the initiative to open a shelter at a nearby school to help residents who were hit by heavy floods.

"Meanwhile, schools are also not operating due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so please use them for the public interest in overcoming this flood disaster. Of course, our schools must be properly guarded," said Totok.

In the meantime, he said, the distance teaching and learning process was also closed, because everyone else was hit by a flood.

"Hopefully this flood disaster will pass quickly, so that everyone can return home," he said.

On the fifth day of the flood disaster, this Monday, it was reported that the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Banjarmasin City had more and more areas where the inundation had increased from yesterday.

"I am monitoring the Veteran and Gatot Subroto roads in East Banjarmasin at the moment, the water is up to the knees, whereas yesterday it was not up to this level, meaning that other areas are getting worse," said Head of Emergency Department BPBD Banjarmasin City Herliansyah, Monday morning.

On the way, his party monitored the field, many residents were evacuated, because they were trapped in a flood, including a vehicle that broke down.

"We are still collecting data for the number of flood victims today," he said.

Data on Sunday, January 17 yesterday, about 47 thousand people were victims of the flood, of which 1,371 people had to flee to safe places, both in places of worship, schools and in sub-districts.