Affected By Floods, 44 Schools In Gorontalo Regency Forced To Be Closed

Gorontalo Flood (doc BNPB)

GORONTALO - Floods are still submerging a number of sub-districts in Gorontalo Regency, Gorontalo Province. Not only houses, but floods are still submerging dozens of schools. This condition forced the government to send down students.

Based on data from the Gorontalo District Education Office, 44 schools were affected by flooding in six sub-districts, namely Tilango, Telaga Jaya, Tabongo, Limboto, West Limboto, and Dungaliyo sub-districts. Of these, the details are 19 elementary schools, 22 PAUD-TK, and 3 junior high schools.

Most of the affected schools are located in Tilanggo District, which is the worst location for flooding.

Even some schools that were not severely affected were used by residents to evacuate. The classrooms and even the teacher's room were continuously inhabited by the refugees.

Assistant III of the Regional Secretariat of Gorontalo Regency, Haris Tome said, the local government closed schools that were only affected by flooding or used as refugee camps. Meanwhile, schools that are not affected are active as usual.

The schools affected by the overflow of Lake Limboto and those used as refugee camps were temporarily closed. Students are closed until the emergency response period is lifted. Schools that are still flooded are planned to be moved to other schools that are not affected," explained Assistant III of the Regional Secretariat of Gorontalo Regency, Haris Tome, Monday, July 15.

Parents and students also chose to evacuate to school. Most of the residents fled to school because there was no other place.

"I haven't gone to school because there are still floods, the school is still off. My school shoes have been washed away and the school uniforms are flooded. Currently I am taking refuge in school, for almost a week I am here," said Arman Ano, one of the students at Muhammadiyah Tilango Junior High School.

Parents hope that students will receive assistance in the form of school uniforms from the government, because their clothes have been washed away by the flood.

As of Monday afternoon, the flood began to recede in several sub-districts. Of the 11 sub-districts, 7 sub-districts are still hit by floods. One of them is Tilanggo sub-district being the worst location and the water is still two meters away.

Seven sub-districts in Gorontalo Regency are still flooded, namely Limboto District, Tabongo District, Tilango District, Telaga Jaya District, West Limboto District, Dungaliyo District, and Telaga Biru District.