Extreme Weather, Residents Around OKU Watershed Asked To Be Alert In Floods

The house of a resident of Baturaja, OKU Regency was flooded on Thursday (16/2) night. (ANTARA)

The community around the watershed (DAS) of Ogan Komering Ulu (OKU) Regency, South Sumatra, was asked to increase awareness of extreme weather that could cause the impact of floods.

Head of the OKU Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Amzar Kristopa through the Pusdalops Manager, Gunalfi stated that the high intensity of rainfall and long-lasting that has occurred in the area since the last few days has the potential to cause floods.

"In fact, there are several areas in Baturaja City, OKU Regency that are surrounded by floods due to heavy rains on Thursday night," he said.

Therefore, people, especially those living along the Ogan Watershed (DAS) are asked to increase their vigilance to deal with natural disasters so as not to cause casualties.

Moreover, based on an early warning from the BMKG, heavy rain accompanied by strong winds will still occur in several areas in South Sumatra, including OKU Regency.

"This has the potential to cause floods and landslides. Moreover, OKU Regency is one of the disaster-prone areas," he said.

The areas in OKU Regency mapped are prone to floods, including Ulu Ogan, Muara Jaya, Semidang Aji, West Baturaja, East Baturaja, Lubuk Batang, Peninjauan and Kedaton Peninjauan Raya sub-districts.

Meanwhile, landslide-prone areas are in Pengandonan, Semidang Aji, Baturaja Barat, Baturaja Timur and Ulu Ogan sub-districts.

In an effort to anticipate disasters, his party has set up disaster management posts in areas that have the potential for floods and landslides in the area.

Each post is alerted by dozens of BPBD personnel assisted by volunteers to be prepared for natural disasters so that they can be handled as early as possible.

"Including disaster management equipment is also ready. In fact, we are intensifying patrols to a number of areas mapped out prone to natural disasters," he said.