River Overflow In South Labuhanbatu Soaks 7 Surut Villages, BPBD Asks Residents To Beware Of Susulants

The overflow of the Barumun-Kotapinang River in South Labuhanbatu Regency has gradually receded. (ANTARA/Kurnia Hamdani)

NORTH SUMATRA - Floods due to the overflow of the Barumun-Kotapinang River, South Labuhanbatu Regency, North Sumatra Province (North Sumatra) have gradually receded. A total of seven villages were affected by the flood.

Head of BPBD South Labuhanbatu, Ismail asked affected residents to remain vigilant considering the intensity of heavy rains that can appear at any time.

"Residents are advised to be vigilant during the ups and downs of river water to anticipate further flooding from upstream of the river," he said in Medan, North Sumatra, Thursday, January 4, which was confiscated by Antara.

He said the South Labuhanbatu Regency Government (Pemkab) had distributed 2,000 disaster aid packages to residents affected by the overflowing flood of the Barumun-Kotapinang River.

Technically, the assistance will be distributed through village, sub-district and sub-district officials during the flood period and after the flood. For victims of this flood, his party has also built a public kitchen.

"If the data for refugees is still being identified, but the temporary data affected by the flood is around 2,000 families, maybe it could increase to 2,500 spread across South Labuhanbatu," said Ismail.

Periodic high intensity rain has occurred since December 18, 2023. The peak is December 28, 2023, causing the north side of the Aek Barumun-Kotapinang Bridge, South Labuhanbatu Regency to collapse. Settlements and plantations of residents were also flooded.

Floods spread in Rasau Village, Lagga Payung Village, Pasir Tuntung Village, Kotapinang Village, Asam Java Village, Tanjung Mulia Village, Batang Saponggol Village, Teluk Panji Bom Village and Kampung Rakyat Village