132 Residents' Houses In Central Maluku Flooded

Police personnel break through the flood that inundated the settlements of residents of Huameteno Hamlet, Negeri Sepa, Amahai District, Central Maluku Regency (HO/BPBD Central Maluku)

AMBON - Heavy rains that flushed the Central Maluku Regency in the last two days caused as many as 132 houses in Amahai District were flooded.

"Temporary data are 132 houses that were flooded. These are the houses of residents who live at kilometers 7, 8, 10 and 12," said Central Maluku BPBD Chief Executive Abdul Latief Key, confirmed in Ambon, Maluku, reported by ANTARA, Friday, July 29.

The flooding that submerged the four residential areas was not only due to the high intensity of rain in the past month, but also due to the overflow of the Hollo River which is behind the area which is a local transmigration area.

"The worst flood was at kilometer 10, especially in Huameteno Hamlet, Negeri Sepa, Amahai District. The water level reached around 75-100 cm," he said.

According to him, now the rain is starting to subside so that the floods are starting to recede. Residents began to clean their submerged houses from the mud.

Regarding the number of displaced residents, according to Latief, only four heads of families (KK) of Dusun Huameteno temporarily took refuge at the local mosque on Thursday (28/7). "Now they have returned to their homes because the water has receded," he said.

Latief said the flooding that hit Central Maluku Regency, especially in the local transmigration area, was the worst in the last five years, including disrupting traffic activities because water overflowed to cover the trans Seram road.

"This year the flood conditions are very severe, because several residential areas in Masohi, the capital of Central Maluku, were also flooded on July 17, 2022," he said.

His party, continued Latief, had distributed emergency response assistance in the form of ready-to-eat food, rice and blankets to affected residents.

"This afternoon the Regent of Abua Tuasikal and his wife came down to see the latest conditions as well as distribute aid to the affected residents," he said.

The Central Maluku BPBD team along with Polri personnel were also temporarily in the field to take stock of various damages, as well as the houses of affected residents, in addition to various emergency needs needed by residents.