Forms Of The Hamlet Level Disaster Task Force, West Sulawesi Provincial Government Asks Residents Of Ronda When Extreme Rain Down

Illustration of citizens in the midst of disaster threats due to extreme weather. (Between)

SULBAR - The Provincial Government (Pemprov) of West Sulawesi (Sulbar) formed a disaster management task force up to the hamlet level. The formation involved local residents.

"According to the instructions of the acting Governor of West Sulawesi Akmal Malik to form disaster management in West Sulawesi, it must be done to help the community," said Head of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of West Sulawesi Province, Amri Eka Sakti, in Mamuju, quoted from Antara, Thursday, October 20.

Amri said the West Sulawesi government carried out socialization of disaster preparedness and mitigation to residents who were victims of floods in Kalukku District, Mamuju Regency, was part of the disaster management carried out by the West Sulawesi Provincial Government.

"Socialization of disaster preparedness and mitigation is carried out so that people understand and know the steps taken when a flood disaster occurs to avoid casualties," he said.

He said, from the socialization it was recommended to form a disaster task force team in each hamlet by involving people in various villages in Kalukku District, which is an area prone to floods and landslides.

According to him, with this socialization, it is hoped that the community can be on standby by conducting a night patrol when the rainfall is high and there is the potential for a disaster.

Amri asked that the people also be asked to be able to monitor each other in carrying out farming and knowing the condition of the land to be cultivated to avoid the risk of landslides.

He also appealed to the public not to cut down trees to open plantation areas in areas prone to landslides and floods.

"The village government is asked to urge the public to pay attention to the environment before opening plantation areas, in order to prevent disasters," he said.

As is known, flash floods in Kalukku District on October 11 previously caused a number of houses to be washed away, between four houses in Sondogan Village, three in South Sinyonyoi Village, and one swept away and one buried in Pammulukan Village.

West Sulawesi BPBD also noted a number of schools, health centers and village offices and a number of other public services, then houses of worship affected by the flood.

Meanwhile, the government in Mamuju noted that at least 1,625 houses had been affected by the flood and were damaged, while around 5,271 people were being handled by the Mamuju government as refugees.

Floods in Kalukku District, apart from cutting off road access, a number of villages have also damaged plantation and agricultural areas of the community.