Residents of DAS in Padang are relocated after the aftermath of the flood, Walkot: Some reject

A resident's house was swept away by flash floods in the Tabing Banda Gadang area, Nanggalo District, Padang City, Monday, January 5, 2026. ANTARA-Muhammad Zulfikar

JAKARTA - The Padang City Government (Pemkot) emphasized the relocation of its citizens from the red zone, especially in the river basin (DAS), to temporary housing (huntara) after the subsequent flood, in order to ensure safety.

"Some of them do not want to be relocated. It should be noted that this relocation is to ensure the safety of residents," said Padang Mayor (Walkot) Fadly Amran in Padang City, West Sumatra (Sumbar), Monday, quoted by Antara.

Fadly said that until now the local government had not designated red zones along the river streams affected by flash floods. However, if the designation is made, then every house in the red zone must be willing to be relocated.

On the one hand, he understands that some residents do not want to be relocated to the huntara with a number of considerations. However, the government continues to educate and socialize that the relocation policy is solely for the safety of residents.

The Padang City Government will immediately conduct a study and analysis, where are the points or areas that are in the red zone. If the River Basin Agency (BWS) under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Works (PU) can restore the initial flow of the river as before the disaster, then it is possible that the location will be occupied again by the community.

"Hopefully there will be no red zone. Hopefully the work from BWS can return as expected by the community," said Fadly Amran.

Meanwhile, one of the residents of Tabing Badang Gadang, Nanggalo District, Ernaini hopes that the government will immediately build a dam so that similar incidents or subsequent flash floods do not occur again.

Currently, he admits that he still chooses to stay at his parents' house and hopes to still be able to settle in the area. Family considerations, livelihoods, and having lived there for years, are strong reasons to stay.

"I still want to live here because our souls are here," he said.