Disaster in the Drainage Channel
Water channel safety systems need to be improved to prevent the risk of accidents.
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The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Petaka di Saluran Drainase
The Basarnas Lampung team evacuated residents who were trapped in floods in Central Lampung and Tulang Bawang regencies, Lampung on Thursday (9/3/2023).
Incidents of children drifting in drainage channels often occur when heavy rain falls in the Lampung area. Apart from parental vigilance, drainage safety systems in densely populated settlements also need to be improved to prevent the risk of accidents.
Ahmad Kafi (4), a young boy from Pesawaran District, was found stuck in a drain not far from his grandmother's house in Wonodadi Village, Gadingrejo District, Pringsewu District, on Sunday (4/2/2024). The toddler was evacuated to the hospital, but unfortunately, his life couldn't be saved.
Head of Gadingrejo Police Chief Inspector Nurul Haq stated that initially no one suspected that the victim was stuck in the drain because the drainage system in the village was relatively small. When the victim went missing, the family initially suspected that the victim was kidnapped.
According to local residents, the victim was last seen playing in the rain with friends. A joint rescue team conducted a search in the area where the victim went missing. At that time, one of the residents found the victim trapped inside a drainage culvert.
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Condition of the open-channel drainage system on Sultan Agung Street, Way Halim District, Bandar Lampung City, on Tuesday (6/2/2024).
Ahmad's evacuation efforts were dramatic. The reason is, the boy's small body got stuck in the middle of the culvert and was difficult to get out. “The evacuation process took almost half an hour. "The victim's body could only be saved after the culvert was destroyed," said Nurul Haq when contacted from Bandar Lampung, Tuesday (6/2/2024).
When found, the victim was already in a weak and helpless condition. They were immediately taken to the nearest clinic for first aid. The victim was then referred to Mutiara Hati Hospital in Pringsewu for further medical treatment. However, the victim was eventually pronounced dead at 19:06.
Previously, M Nadif (2.5), a toddler, also drifted away in a waterway near his house in Griya Kencana Residential, Rajabasa District, Bandar Lampung City, on Monday (9/1/2024). Until the seven-day search period by the joint SAR team, the boy could not be found.
Also read: Toddlers Drift Away in Bandar Lampung
At that time, the victim slipped while playing in the rain in his house's yard. At the time of the incident, the victim's mother had tried to help. However, the current in the water channel was strong enough to carry away the small boy's body.
The Basarnas team in Trenggalek, together with other elements, are searching for the victims of flooding in Kediri City, East Java, on Sunday (26/3/2023). Two siblings from Sumberagung Village, Wates District, Kediri Regency, were swept away by the sewage water on Saturday night.
Head of Basarnas Lampung Operation Department, Didit Permana, stated that the joint team has been trying to optimize the search for seven days. In addition to combing the drainage channels around the residential areas, the rescue team also attempted to search for victims in the rivers and marshes in the Bandar Lampung and South Lampung Regency areas.
However, the search efforts have not yielded any results. After consultations with the family and relevant parties, the search for Nadif was finally terminated on Sunday (14/1/2024).
According to Didit, adverse weather conditions often pose a challenge in the effort to search for victims of drowning. "At the time of the incident, the weather was heavy rain. We were still optimistic that the victim could be found with the search operation plan that had been prepared," said Didit.
Also read: 11 year old child drifts in water channel
This is not the first case like this in Lampung. According to Kompas's records, at least four children died due to falling and being swept away by currents in water or irrigation canals in the last four years.
The Basarnas team in Trenggalek, together with other elements, are searching for the victims of flooding in Kediri City, East Java, on Sunday (26/3/2023). Two siblings from Sumberagung Village, Wates District, Kediri Regency, were swept away by the sewage water on Saturday night.
Mayor of Bandar Lampung, Eva Dwiana, urges the public to increase supervision of their children when playing outside, especially during the rainy season. Heavy rain can cause rapid overflowing of drains and rivers, which can be dangerous.
Lecturer in Civil Engineering at the Sumatra Institute of Technology, M Abi Berkah Nadi, said that drainage construction in urban areas and densely populated settlements is safer if using a closed drainage system or box culvert. Apart from draining rainwater or water contaminated with household waste, drainage with a closed system is also safer from the risk of accidents.
According to Abi, drainage in most residential areas in Bandar Lampung and its surroundings still uses an open channel system or U-ditch. These channels include ditches, streams, and ditches that are open at ground level.
The flow of water in an open system can be easily seen, making it easier to monitor and maintain. However, this open channel system has several weaknesses. One of them is the higher risk of accidents due to the presence of open channels in densely populated residential areas.
Bandar Lampung Mayor Herman HN (wearing white clothing) inspected the flood site in Panjang District, Bandar Lampung City on Wednesday (5/8/2020).
According to Abi, the high number of children drowning in open waterways should be a concern for the city of Bandar Lampung to improve the safety system in open drains. The government should be able to create covers for open drains that are adequately sized to prevent similar accidents.
Apart from that, the government also needs to build water discharge breakwater facilities in areas where the water flow is heavy. The construction of this barrier needs to be carried out from upstream to downstream areas so that when it rains heavily the water flow through the drainage is not too heavy and endangers the safety of residents.
By ensuring the security system of the drainage, the built waterways can function properly to drain rainwater and prevent flooding. It will not become a catastrophe for children.
