Floods In OKU South Sumatra Damaged 600 Homes With 2 Liaison Bridges, Access To Almost Fired Residents

One of the houses of residents of Kota Batu Village, Warkuk Ranau Selatan District, South OKU Regency was almost swept away due to flash floods/ANTARA

OKU - Two suspension bridges in Batu City Village, Warkuk Ranau Selatan District, South Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra Province, broke up due to the flash flood that occurred on Sunday, November 13 yesterday. Head of the Preparedness Section of the South OKU Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Heri, said that apart from the bridge, the flood also submerged 600 houses in Batu City Village, including destroying a number of public facilities that could not be used. The broken bridge has been connecting Kota Batu Village with Pagar Dewa Village. Until now, the access of hundreds of people across the river is almost completely paralyzed because the bridge cannot be passed by two-wheeled vehicles or pedestrians. "To cross the river temporarily, residents use boats because there is no alternative road," he said in Muaradua, Antara, Monday, November 14. In addition to the bridge, he said, flooding due to the high intensity of rainfall that occurred during the four days damaged other public facilities such as the 700-meter-long talud and PDAM infrastructure, disrupting the distribution of clean water for customers in the area. "Currently, the government is looking for the best solution so that damaged public facilities can be repaired immediately, especially suspension bridges so that community activities run smoothly again," he said. Meanwhile, residents of Kota Batu Village hope that the local government will immediately repair the broken suspension bridge so as not to interfere with community activities across the river. For the time being, he said, people were forced to use boat services for activities such as going to the garden and going to school. "Because this bridge is the only access for the people of Kota Batu Village to Pagar Dewa Village and vice versa, it is hoped that it will be repaired soon," he said.