Flash Floods In Mandailing Natal: 86 Santri Mengungsi, 36 Pondok Hanyut

Flash floods hit Nagari Purba Pasir in Haranggal District, Mandailing Natal Regency, North Sumatra Province, Wednesday (12/12/2023) night. (ANTARA/HO-BNPB)

ManDALING - Flash floods caused dozens of students and residents in the Mandailing Natal Regency area, North Sumatra Province to evacuate. The Head of BPBD Mandailing Natal Regency, Mukhsin Nasution, said that the flood was the result of heavy rains that caused the Binanga Bolon River to overflow. As a result, residents from Negari Purba Pasir in Lembah Sorik Marapi District, Mandailing Natal Regency, last Wednesday at around 23.00 local time fled. "Santri and residents affected by flash floods are temporarily directed to evacuate to the nearest school and Islamic boarding school. There are 86 students and nine others displaced," explained Mukhsin, quoted from a BNPB press release in Jakarta, Thursday, December 21. BPBD Mandailing Natal Regency reported that one of the residents affected by the flood was injured. "One injured victim has been handled at the Panyabungan Hospital," he said. Flash floods also affected buildings around the Binanga Bolon River. According to Mukhsin, the flood caused 36 santri huts to be washed away and two houses were heavily damaged and affected by two places of worship. "We are coordinating further with the Islamic boarding schools and the relevant regional authorities to clean and restore damaged buildings," he said. Mukhsin said that BPBD had distributed aid to residents affected by the flood.

"The flood has receded and we have brought logistical assistance in the form of ready-to-eat food and other basic necessities," he said.