The government will immediately repair infrastructure damaged by the flood that hit 10 of the 13 regencies/cities in South Kalimantan.
By
KOMPAS TEAM
·5 minutes read
KOMPAS/DIONISIUS REYNALDO TRIWIBOWO
Residents of Barito Kuala, South Kalimantan fled to their relatives\' homes using a pickup car, Monday (18/1/2021). Floods along Jalan Ahmad Yani Trans Kalimantan are getting worse at several points. Transportation was disrupted.
BANJARBARU, KOMPAS — The government will immediately repair infrastructure damaged by the flood that hit 10 of the 13 regencies/cities in South Kalimantan. Ten days after this disaster struck, as many as 15 people have been killed and 39,549 residents have been forced to evacuate.
During a visit to the flood site on Monday (18/1/2021), President Joko Widodo had a close look at the impact of the flood, including the condition of evacuees and damage to infrastructure. "This is a big flood the like of which has never occurred in South Kalimantan for more than 50 years. Repair it immediately so that the distribution of logistics and other goods is not disturbed. This is very important,” said the President in a press conference at the Matraman bridge, Astambul district, Banjar regency, South Kalimantan.
The President, who was accompanied, among others, by Public Works and Housing (PUPR) Minister Basuki Hadimuljono and National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) head Doni Monardo, gave the PUPR minister three to four days to repair the bridge. The President also asked other crucial infrastructure to be repaired immediately.
The Matraman bridge connects the South and East Kalimantan regions. The bridge collapsed twice during the recent flooding.
Repair it immediately so that the distribution of logistics and other goods is not disturbed. This is very important.
The information received by the President said high rainfall caused the Barito River to overflow. The river, which has a capacity of 2.3 million cubic meters, had to accommodate 2.1 billion cubic meters of excess water. On that occasion, there was no mention of environmental damage in Kalimantan, which has mainly been caused by land conversion for plantations and mining.
Based on BNPB data, the 10 regencies/cities affected by the flood are Tapin regency, Banjar regency, Banjarbaru city, Tanah Laut city, Banjarmasin city, Hulu Sungai Tengah regency, Balangan regency, Tabalong regency, Hulu Sungai Selatan regency and Barito Kuala regency.
A total of 24,379 houses were submerged and 39,549 residents displaced by this disaster. Hulu Sungai Tengah regency was the most affected.
Refugees at the Jamhuri Asiyah Mosque, Handil Bakti Village, Barito Kuala Regency, South Kalimantan, on Monday (18/1/2021) hang their clothes on the mosque fence.
Based on Kompas\' observation in Barito Kuala regency, many residents evacuated to the side of Jl. Ahmad Yani on the trans-Kalimantan road section. They erected emergency tents, a number of them asked for donations from people in passing vehicles. Several people rented kelotok (motorized boats) to transport their belongings.
Jayadi, 45, a resident of Sungai Lumbah village, Barito Kuala regency, said that during the 20 years he had lived in the village, his residential site had never been inundated by a flood that forced him to evacuate. "This kelotok could simply enter the house. It has never happened before," he said.
Yesterday, after arriving at the Matraman bridge, the President visited the flood sites, including the Demang Lehman evacuation post in Banjar regency. There, there were at least 558 evacuees.
During the visit, the President distributed aid, such as food, clothes and blankets. People were struggling over the packages of basic necessities, ignoring health protocols.
"As for food, there is a lot here. What is lacking are clothes and blankets. At night, it\'s very cold,” said Annisa, 30, an evacuee at the Demang Lehman stadium. Her house in Pekauman village, Banjar, was submerged by nearly 2 meters of water.
Based on data from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, currently most parts of the country are in the peak of the rainy season, such as parts of Kalimantan, Lampung, Java, Bali, South Sulawesi, Nusa Tenggara and Merauke, Papua. It is estimated that the peak of the rainy season will continue until February.
Jalan Boulevard Piere Tendean Manado, North Sulawesi, was inundated by floods from overflowing sea water due to high waves that hit Manado Bay, Sunday (17/1/2021).
Areas at risk of being affected by extreme weather include large parts of Aceh, Riau Islands, West Sumatra, Bangka Belitung, parts of West Java, Central Java, parts of Yogyakarta and the Tapal Kuda and Madura regions in East Java. Other areas include parts of West Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, parts of Sulawesi Island, as well as Papua and West Papua.
Floods in other regions
Yesterday, a flood with a height of 3 meters also inundated dozens of houses in Banyuasin III district, Banyuasin regency, South Sumatra. Dozens of residents were evacuated. The majority of residents fled to the houses of their families or relatives who lived on higher land.
In Aceh, yesterday, floods hit the regencies of East Aceh and Pidie. A total of 300 houses in four villages were submerged as deep as 80 centimeters.
Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency head Ilyas said landslides had hit a number of areas, including the North Aceh-Bener Meriah road. In January, there were 44 natural disasters. "The losses are estimated at Rp 9.5 billion. Most of them are flooding," he said.
On the island of Java, floods hit the northern coastline, such as in the regencies of Cirebon (West Java), Brebes (Central Java) and Sidoarjo (East Java).
Acting regent of Sidoarjo, Hudiyono, said that apart from on the national road in Porong, the flood also submerged thousands of houses in several villages.
According to a geologist from the Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology, Surabaya, Amien Widodo, the flood in Porong was also caused by land subsidence as a result of the Lapindo hot mudflow. (IDO/ NTA/ RAM/AIN/ VIO/IKI/ XTI/ NIK/ ETA)
