Rain Potential Still High, East Kotawaringin Regency Government Extends Flood Darudat Response

Flood illustration (Photo: dock. Antara)

JAKARTA - The government of East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan has extended its flood emergency response status. This is true for 14 days because the potential for rain is still quite high. "We have held an evaluation meeting and listened to the explanations of each relevant agency, basically we decided to continue the flood emergency response status," said Deputy Regent of East Kotawaringin, Irawati, quoting Antara.

In deciding on the extension of this status, his party has carried out an evaluation meeting involving, including the Kalimantan River II Regional Office, TNI, Polri, BMKG, Inspectorate, Basarnas, Social Service, Fire and Rescue Service. Previously, the East Kotawaringin Regency Government established a flood emergency response status from February 24 to March 8, 2024. As the status ended, stakeholders held an evaluation meeting to determine the next steps. The main source in the meeting, in the form of exposure to the East Kotawaringin BMKG, which conveyed that there was still potential for rain on the first basis, then decreased on the second basis, and again increased on the third basis of March 2024. The condition was followed by early warnings of potential inundation and flooding in the northern region of East Kotawaringin so that it was agreed to extend the emergency response status of flooding from March 9 to 23, 2024. The purpose of extending this response status is to accelerate and make it easier if you want to distribute social assistance or rescue," he said. Floods are gradually receding in most local areas. A number of villages that are still flooded, including Kabuau and Baruranang Miri, Parenggean District, Parenggean River, Ubar Mandiri District, Cempaga Hulu District, and Muara Ubar, Telawang District. The local district government also prioritizes handling of inundation in the city that is still frequent, including instructing the relevant agencies to carry out normalization or cleaning drainage from waste or deposits. Food and medicine assistance for flood victims are also alerted with priority distribution to residents whose houses are submerged. Quite many residents are affected by flooding but only those who are flooded in the yard.

Head of BPBD East Kotawaringin Multazam said the floods were gradually receding, but there was still the potential for rain so there was still a threat of natural disasters. "For that we must anticipate, we should not be careless about this situation," he said. He said climate change has an effect on extreme weather changes. This can be seen from weather conditions in the last few days, especially urban areas that have rained with high intensity. Therefore, he appealed to the public to remain alert to disasters.

He said road access in several villages and sub-districts in the area was still in the form of land roads that were prone to flooding, so that they could block traffic out and enter the area.