17 Houses Swept Away Due To Flash Floods In Sumbawa

Two residents saw the rubble of houses damaged by flash floods hitting six sub-districts in Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara, on Tuesday (4/4/2023). ANTARA/HO-BPBD Sumbawa

MATARAM - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Sumbawa Regency, West Nusa Tenggara recorded that 17 semi-permanent housing units were swept away due to flash floods that hit six sub-districts.

The Chief Executive of the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) for Sumbawa Regency, Muhammad Nurhidayat, said that the six sub-districts that were hit by flash floods, namely Lenangguar, Moyo Hulu, Empang, Ropang, Lunyuk, and Alas Districts,

"The flash floods were caused by the high intensity of rain and high sedimentation in watersheds and the inadequate building of cliff protection infrastructure in the affected areas," he said as reported by ANTARA, Tuesday, April 4.

He said that as many as 17 semi-permanent houses that were washed away by the flood were the houses of residents of the Moyo Hulu District. All of them are scattered in five units of Lito Village, two units of Semamung Village, three units of Brang Rea Village, two units of Sebasang Village, and five units of Batu Tering Village.

Apart from washing away houses, the flood also washed away 27 hectares of ready-to-harvest rice in Rate Village. In addition, several livestock died.

Paddy fields in Lito Village covering an area of ​​50 hectares, and 49 hectares of rice fields in Lenangguar Village were flooded. There was also a rice mill factory in Brang Rea village that was swept away by the flood.

The BPBD of Sumbawa Regency also recorded that the bridge connecting Lito Village and Lantung Village, Moyo Hulu District, had collapsed due to flooding, so that vehicles could not pass through it. The suspension bridge in Semamung Village also collapsed.

"We also received reports that two cars owned by residents in Sebasang Village were swept away by the floods and eight housing units were partially damaged in Brang Rea Village," said Muhammad.

For temporary data, the number of residents affected by the floods, he said, was 26 heads of families in Lenangguar District. Meanwhile, in Moyo Hulu District, there were 770 people in Lito Village, 44 people in Brang Rea Village, 15 people in Batu Tering Village.

His party also recorded damage to district roads with the worst points along three kilometers (km), namely along 1.5 km before entering Lebin Village, and 1.5 km after Lebin Village.

"The Lunyuk-Sumbawa crossroad section also experienced landslides, and the PDAM water pipe in Marente Village, Alas District, was damaged," said Muhammad.

His party has coordinated with all affected villages and sub-districts to jointly carry out the handling, especially the distribution of early-stage aid for flood-affected residents.

Muhammad added that TNI and Polri members were also involved in handling the impact of flash floods.

"The urgent needs right now are public kitchens, logistics, drinking water, tarpaulins, mattresses, tents, blankets, family kits, baby and elderly equipment, and clean water. We are coordinating this with related agencies," he said.