Nunukan Flood, One Person Reported Missing And 2,182 Houses Submerged

Floods inundated residential areas in Sembakung District, Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan Province. (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The flood disaster that hit parts of Nunukan Regency in North Kalimantan Province on 20 September 2023 has affected 3,052 families and forced 32 of them to flee according to information broadcast by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information, and Communication Center, Abdul Muhari, said that the flood had inundated at least 2,182 houses, 51 public facilities, and 54 hectares of rice fields in 29 villages in 11 sub-districts in Nunukan Regency.

"One resident was reported missing and is currently still being searched for," said Abdul, as quoted by ANTARA, on Tuesday, September 26.

According to him, the Nunukan Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has coordinated with relevant government agencies to deal with the impact of the flood, including carrying out search and rescue efforts.

BPBD Nunukan Regency helped set up refugee tents and public kitchens and distributed aid to residents in flood-affected areas.

The high-intensity rain that poured down the Nunukan area since September 20 2023 morning caused flooding in the area on the border between Indonesia and Malaysia. The areas affected by flooding are mostly near river flows.

As of Sunday (24/9) at 21.35 WIB, the flood had not completely receded because rain still frequently fell in the upstream areas of the river in Malaysia.

Abdul said that rain was predicted to continue falling in the Nunukan Regency area until last Wednesday.

"With this information, BNPB appealed to the people in Nunukan, especially those affected by flooding, to anticipate the potential for subsequent disasters," he said.

He asked residents living in areas along the river to pay attention to the water level and immediately evacuate to a location deemed safe if heavy rain falls for more than an hour.