Jebol Embankment, Settlement In Aceh Tamiang Soaks River Overflow

Residents are in the middle of a flood in Rantau Pakam Village, Treasurer District, Aceh Tamiang, Saturday (1/7/2023). (ANTARA)

The river overflow flood submerged the downstream area in Rantau Pakam Village, Bendahara District, Aceh Tamiang Regency, with a water level of 10-30 centimeters which inundated people's houses.

Head of BPBD Aceh Tamiang Regency, Iman Suhery, confirmed that one village in the coastal area of Aceh Tamiang was flooded with river overflows and also the impact of high tides entering settlements.

"Water from the river came in, because the flood management embankment has not been completed at Rantau Pakam," said Iman, quoted by ANTARA, Sunday, July 2.

However, he ensured that so far no Rantau Pakam community had fled either to the post or the home of relatives.

In addition to flooding in Rantau Pakam, the river discharge also almost broke into the Marlempang Embankment which was recently built by the Aceh Tamiang Regency Government (Pemkab).

"This is the condition of the Marlempang Embankment which was made yesterday is still safe. Hopefully what we made yesterday will not break," he said.

Meanwhile, a resident of Rantau Pakan, Joni Pranata (39), said that the average residents' houses in the lowlands were flooded with only adult feet. Even though the village is being built a concrete embankment by the Aceh Provincial Government.

"The embankment is not ready, so the river water is still overflowing. This is a flood sent from upstream because it has been raining for several days, and this is the impact," said Joni.

Apart from Rantau Pakam Village, said the Tagana Volunteer, the flood also inundated the main road section of Teluk Halban Village which is directly adjacent to the Aceh Tamiang river. In fact, the neighboring area of Kampung Rantau Pakam has also built a permanent embankment with a length of about 400 meters.

"In Halban Bay, water has also started to enter. Flood water seeps from the concrete embankment inundating the road," he said.

For now, the flood conditions have receded slightly, he said, but residents are worried that tides will have an impact on aftershocks and can worsen the situation.