Sawah In 2 Villages Of East Aceh Soak Floods With An Altitude Of 30-70 Centimeters

Rice fields were flooded in East Aceh Regency, Wednesday (25/1/2023). ANTARA/HO

EAST ACEH - The Agriculture Service of Food Crops and Horticulture in East Aceh Regency stated that dozens of hectares of rice fields in the area have been flooded since the last few days. Head of the Agriculture Service for Food Crops and Horticulture, East Aceh Regency, Erwin Atlizar, said dozens of hectares of flooded rice fields were spread across two villages in Bireum Bayeun District. "From our monitoring in the field, more than 11 hectares of rice fields were flooded in two villages in Bireum Bayeun District. Meanwhile, in other sub-districts, data collection is being collected. The flood height ranges from 30 to 70 centimeters," said Erwin Atlizar in East Aceh, Antara, Wednesday, January 25. Erwin Atlizar said the age of the rice plants that were flooded varied, ranging from seven to 24 days. There are even in the process of nursery. Although plants are young, if the flood takes too long, it also causes plants to die. The rice fields that were flooded in Bireum Bayeun Subdistrict include Bayeun Gampong with an area of six hectares from 20 hectares, as well as five hectares from 12 hectares that were submerged in Gampong Mercua Dua. "The data on the submerged rice fields is still temporary because the team is still collecting data on other rice fields that were submerged due to flooding in East Aceh Regency. Later, after the data is complete, we will convey it again," said Erwin Atlizar. Meanwhile, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of East Aceh Regency stated that floods hit a number of sub-districts in the district gradually receded. “Banjir hit four sub-districts covering nine villages or gampongs. Now, the flood is gradually receding. However, in some places the flood is still inundated," said Head of BPBD East Aceh Regency Ashadi. Ashadi said that although the flood had receded, residents were advised to be careful because extreme weather such as rain was estimated to still have the potential to occur on the east coast of Aceh Province, including the East Aceh Regency. "The flood occurred due to the overflowing of a number of rivers due to heavy rains that have occurred in the last few days. The flood not only submerged residential areas, but also agricultural land such as rice fields," said Ashadi.