More Than 3 Thousand Families Displaced Due To Flash Floods In North Luwu

Banjir Bandang Luwu Utara (Photo: BNPB Public Relations)

JAKARTA - More than 3,000 families have been displaced by flooding in North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi. They are located in three sub-districts, namely Sabbang, Baebunta and Masamba Districts.

The BNPB Operations Control Center recorded that the number of survivors from North Luwu Regency reached 3,627 families or 14,483 people. This number does not include those who fled in the districts of South Baebunta, Malangke and West Malangke. The local BPBD is still collecting data in the field.

The regional government is assisted by the regional government with the assistance of other relevant partners, such as the Indonesian Red Cross. Some of them are in six tactical command posts in Radda, Masamba, Bone, Bone Tua and the Regent's Office of North Luwu.

"The local BPBD identifies urgent needs for affected residents in the form of clean water, medicines, women's underwear, diapers for toddlers and the elderly, blankets, sarongs, household cleaning kits, family kits and masks," said the Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center. Raditya Jati in his official statement, Friday 17 July.

Basarnas noted that 36 people died and 16 others were in search. Efforts to search and evacuate victims who are still missing, the Joint SAR Team under the command of Basarnas has deployed 539 personnel, while the total potential is 1,001 personnel.

The provisional data collection for building material losses to date includes 4,202 affected houses, 61 micro businesses, 13 places of worship, 9 schools, 8 government offices, 3 health facilities, 2 public facilities and traditional markets 1.

Meanwhile, infrastructure losses include 12.8 km of affected roads, 9 units of bridges, 100 m of clean water pipes, 2 units of irrigation bending. Access to several main roads, such as Masamba – Baebunta and roads in Sabbang Subdistrict to Malimbu Village are still buried in mud and can only be accessed by two wheels.

Damage to the PDAM's clean water pipeline network has made water supply difficult, even though the PDAM is still not operating. Not all of the electricity network infrastructure is operational, there are some points that are still out. Meanwhile, the communication network is not yet stable.

The flood also damaged 460 hectares of productive land in the form of agricultural land and rice fields.

Meanwhile, in an effort to handle emergencies, the BPBD Rapid Reaction Team is still conducting a rapid assessment of needs in isolated locations. BPBD has also deployed heavy equipment to clean mud material, especially at road access so that it can facilitate distribution of aid and mobility of residents.

On the other hand, the local government is still constrained by heavy equipment for cleaning mud materials and operational vehicles to distribute logistical assistance and mobilize volunteers. Monitoring in the field, many access roads that are still not accessible by vehicles.