Floods And Landslides Hit The South Coast Of West Sumatra: The Road Is Cut Off, The Victim Is Still Being Recorded

The location of the floods and landslides in the Tarusan area, Painan. (ANTARA/HO-Dsikominfo)

SUMBAR - BPBD Pesisir Selatan Regency cleared landslide material on national roads that connects the Painan area to Padang City.

The head of the local BPBD Emergency and Logistics Division, Defrisiswan, said that there were landslides at several points along 1 km from the border of Pesisir Selatan 1 Regency and Padang City, which caused the road to be impassable.

"The BPBD of Pesisir Selatan Regency is also coordinating with relevant agencies for data collection [victims]," he said in a written statement, August 18, which was confiscated by Antara.

Heavy rains that flushed Pesisir Selatan Regency on Thursday, August 17 evening caused two sub-districts in the area to flood and landslide.

The floods and landslides hit Tau Nagari Setara Nanggalo Village, XI District Koto Tarusan and Nagari Baru Salido and Taratak Lumpo in District IV Jurai Painan. The water level when the flood ranged from 50'20 cm.

Previously, a number of villages in the Silaut sub-district in the South Coast region experienced flooding because of the high intensity of rain.

As of Saturday 19 August, BMKG estimates that areas in West Sumatra will still have the opportunity for heavy rain accompanied by lightning or lightning and strong winds.

Meanwhile, on the South Coast, the potential for light rain is still being observed today.

BNPB urges local governments and residents to remain vigilant and ready to face potential wet hydrometeorological hazards, such as floods, landslides, and strong winds even though it is currently in the dry season.

"Heavy rains with long durations can still occur which can cause unstable soil structures to trigger floods and landslides. Residents in hilly areas can immediately evacuate early if these conditions occur around their homes," said Head of the BNPB Disaster Data, Information and Communication Center Abdul Muhari.