Heavy Rain, Jokowi Didn't Monitor South Kalimantan Floods Via Rubber Boat

President Joko Widodo departed for South Kalimantan Province from the Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force Base, Jakarta, Monday, January 18 morning. (Photo: Doc, Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)

JAKARTA - The President of the Republic of Indonesia Joko Widodo (Jokowi) monitors from the top of the bridge in the middle of the flood disaster in Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan on Monday, January 18 afternoon. The president could not go down the river in the middle of the flood as scheduled due to heavy rain when the head of state arrived.

Quoted from Antara, the President and his entourage arrived at around 13.26 WITA in the East Martapura District and were greeted by heavy rain, so that the agenda of monitoring the flood using the marine rubber boat that was preparing under the bridge was canceled.

Using an umbrella, Jokowi then walked towards the eastern side of the bridge to meet the community as the rain subsided and had time to distribute food packages.

After leaving the Pekauman Ulu Bridge, the President came to the Banua Anyar Bridge in Astambul Subdistrict, which was damaged by the flood, which cut off access to the cross-province national road.

After leaving the Banua Anyar bridge, the President continued his journey to visit the refugee camp at the Demang Lehman Martapura Stadium to see first hand the conditions of the displaced residents.

For information, floods in a number of areas in South Kalimantan (South Kalimantan) caused 112,709 residents to evacuate, while 27,111 houses were submerged and claimed five lives.

Head of the BNPB Operations Control Center, Bambang Surya Putra, in a media briefing in Jakarta, Saturday, said that BNPB has provided ready-to-use funds for the South Kalimantan Province of IDR 1 billion, Banjar Regency IDR 500 million, Tapin Regency IDR 500 million, Banjar Baru City IDR 500. million, Tabalong Regency Rp. 500 million, Balangan Regency Rp. 500 million, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency Rp. 500 million, and Tanah Laut City Rp. 500 million.

BNPB also set up five refugee tents, 100 beds, a 10 meter long folding boat with an engine, buoys, and 100 ready meals, as well as extra food and masks.

Floods in South Kalimantan occurred in a number of areas, namely Banjar Regency, Tapin Regency, Banjar Baru City, Tabalong Regency, Balangan Regency, Hulu Sungai Tengah Regency and Tanah Laut City.