BPBD: 1,352 People In Southeast Aceh Affected By Floods

The condition of residents' houses that were flooded in Southeast Aceh Regency, Friday (18/8/2023). (ANTARA/HO-BPBD Southeast Aceh)

Aceh's Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) stated that 1,352 people in 338 families (KK) in Southeast Aceh Regency, Aceh Province were affected by floods triggered by high rainfall in the area. “ Korban terdampak 1.352 jiwa, tidak ada pengungsi dan korban jiwa. Kondisi terakhir air sudah surut,” kata Kepala Pelaksana BPBD Aceh Ilyas melalui Pusdalops PB) BPBD Aceh di Banda Aceh, Antara, Jumat, 18 Agustus. Floods in Southeast Aceh have occurred since last Thursday at around 21.09 WIB. This flood incident occurred due to the high intensity of rainfall in Southeast Aceh, causing the Kinga River embankment in Lawe Sumur District to burst and causing water to overflow into the roads and houses of residents. "The material impact of this incident is that residents' houses were submerged, road access could not be passed because the water was still inundated on the road, the obstruction of the Kuta Buluh Village Bridge, the breakdown of the Lawe Kinga river embankment and the breakdown of the Lawe Alas river embankment in Gampong Pedesi,” he said. The affected areas are eight gampongs in Bambel District, four gampongs in Lawe Sumur District, two gampongs in Semedam District, six gampongs in Bukit Tusam District, and one gampong in Pulonas Baru District. In disaster management, according to him, the Southeast Aceh BPBD deployed a rapid reaction team to the scene to collect data, monitor, appeal for weather forecasts and deploy one unit of heavy equipment to assist disaster management. Previously, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to Acehnese provincial residents to be aware of the potential for floods and landslides triggered by high rainfall and strong winds in the next few days. “ Beware of potential hydrometeorological disasters such as floods, landslides, strong winds, and others due to heavy rains, ” said BMKG Class I forecaster Sultan Iskandar Muda Aceh Besar Stya Juangga Dirta. He explained that for the next three days the Aceh region still has the potential to experience rain in several areas, which are influenced by wind bend areas and convergence in the region. In addition, it is also supported by an increase in sea level temperature in the Indian Ocean region, thereby increasing the potential for evaporation that contributes to increasing rainfall in the Tanah Rencong area.