Flood Victims In Batubara North Sumatra Can Smile Because The Police Chief Gives Food Packages

Batubara Police Chief, Grand Commissioner Adjutant Ikhwan Lubis handed over basic food assistance to flood victims. (Photo: Antara)

JAKARTA - North Sumatra Regional Police Chief Inspector General Pol R.Z. Panca Putra Simanjuntak handed over social assistance in the form of 1,000 food packages to flood victims in four sub-districts in Batubara Regency.

"The food packages were handed over in Sei Balai, Nibung Hangus, Datuk Tanah Datar, and Talawi sub-districts," said Chief of the Coal Police Resort Grand Commissioner Adjutant Ikhwan Lubis, who represented the Panca Putra Police Chief, symbolically handed over the aid. Saturday, August 21.

He mentioned the symbolic handover of aid in Kwala Sikasim Village, Sei Balai District, Batubara Regency, North Sumatra, Friday (20/8). The assistance was received by the sub-district heads and village heads whose respective areas were affected by the flood, to be further distributed to the victims of the natural disaster.

"Furthermore, it is distributed to the community accompanied by bhabinkamtibmas and babinsa," said the Ikhwan.

Heavy rains since the last four days have been exacerbated by flooding from Asahan Regency which has caused 5,806,000 houses of Batubara Regency residents to be submerged.

A number of rivers in Batubara also overflowed, not only submerging residential areas, but also submerging rice fields, plantations, and public facilities.

There were no fatalities in the disaster, while the number of schools that were inundated by floods is still being collected and the area of plantations or rice fields affected by the flood is 4,778.5 hectares, and losses are still being calculated.

Currently, the flooding that submerged 5,806 local residents' houses has begun to recede. However, residents in Batubara Regency are advised to remain vigilant against further flooding.