Floods Still Submerge East Aceh

BANDA ACEH - Floods triggered by high rainfall are still submerging several sub-districts in East Aceh Regency, Aceh Province, and even the water discharge is expected to continue to increase.

"It is estimated that for sub-districts that are downstream, such as Peurelak, Birem Bayeun, the water discharge will continue to increase considering the tide is full tonight", said the Head of the Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) Ilyas through the Data and Information Center (Pusdatin) in Banda Aceh as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, November 8.

Floods began to submerge East Aceh on Thursday, November 3 following heavy rains that flushed the local district in the last few days.

"Heavy rains that occurred in parts of East Aceh and the overflow of the Arakundo and Peureulak rivers have caused flooding with water levels of 20-60 centimeters", he said.

Currently, BPBA noted that 49 villages spread across 11 sub-districts were flooded, with varying water levels. The area includes six villages in the District of Birem Bayeun, one village of Simpang Jernih, five villages of Pante Bidari, and four villages of Peunaron.

Furthermore, there are five villages in Ranto Peureulak Sub-district, one village in Simpang Ulim, one village in Julok, seven villages in Sungai Raya, five villages in Rantau Selamat, 13 villages in Peurelak, and one village in West Peurelak. Meanwhile, a landslide occurred in Birem Bayeun which caused the inter-village road to be buried for 5 meters.

"The temporary total of the affected victims is 18,721 people in 4,979 families", said Ilyas.

East Aceh BPBD officers are continuing to record the affected victims. Currently, there are 3,145 people displaced in 801 families.

Meanwhile, the highest number of refugees was in Ranto Peureulak Sub-district, which reached 2,869 people in 712 families, 200 people in 70 families in Birem Bayeun, and 76 people in 19 families in West Peurelak.

"There are a total of 13 refugee locations spread across several villages", he said.

Ilyas said that the East Aceh BPBD officers continued to coordinate with village officials and related agencies to conduct studies, collect data, evacuate residents, and distribute panic assistance.

"The obstacles in the field, for the Simpang Jernih sub-district, have not been reported because of the telephone network", he said.

In addition to submerging residents' houses, he continued, the material impact of the flood also caused three houses to be slightly damaged. So far there have been no reports of casualties.