Kendari Flash Flood Submerges Thousands of Houses, Survivors Still Worried

A total of 3,248 families were affected by the Kendari flash flood. They are traumatized by disasters that could happen at any time.

The following article was translated using both Microsoft Azure Open AI and Google Translation AI. The original article can be found in Banjir Bandang Kendari Rendam Ribuan Rumah, Penyintas Masih Waswas

Residents carry leftover materials flash flood in Lorong Lasolo, Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, Tuesday (12/3/2024). Flash floods hit this area last week, affecting thousands of residents and causing one person to die.

KENDARI, KOMPAS - Flash floods that hit Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi last week submerged thousands of houses and affected thousands of families. Although it has been a week since the disaster, residents are still traumatized as rain is still occurring regularly and the threat of further disasters looms. On the other hand, the government's total data collection on flood impacts is not yet complete.

Abdul Kadir (57), a resident of Lorong Lasolo, Sanua Village, West Kendari, stated that when it rains, he immediately goes out of his house and observes the drainage system. When the water level rises, he then organizes his belongings for easy salvage.

"Like rain now, when the water rises I immediately inform my family to be ready. But it seems like this rain won't last long," he said on Tuesday (12/3/2024) before evening."

Together with some of his neighbors, this father of four cleaned up the ditches that were exposed during the flash flood that occurred on Wednesday (6/3/2024), last week. The water flooded the streets, making it difficult for residents to get out of the alley.

According to Abdul, the flash flood that occurred last week was never predicted beforehand. Despite being a frequent victim of floods, the water level was not as high as that incident. Mud mixed water surged through the village with a height of more than one meter.

"During my stay here, which has been for more than thirty years, this is the worst flood we have experienced. That's why we're afraid when it rains, especially at night. All of this is due to poor drainage, and the fact that the hills behind us have all been cleared," he said.

Ardi (40), along with other residents, shared that just a few moments of rain caused water to overflow onto the streets. Several areas in the West Kendari region are prone to floods during rainfall.

However, last week's flood made him more anxious. "We're afraid that we'll be sleeping and the rain will come. That's why we hope the government has a solution," he said.

Flash floods hit Kendari on Wednesday (6/3/2024) last week. Heavy rain for several hours caused water to overflow rapidly and carry mud. The water swept away houses, vehicles, and forced residents to evacuate.

Also read: Kendari Emergency Flood Response, Survivors Wait for Solution

At Santa Anna Hospital in Kendari, for instance, the floodwaters reached a height of nearly two meters. This flood has been deemed the highest ever and has had quite a significant impact.

As an experienced translator working for a media agency, it is my duty to translate Indonesian news into English with a formal grammar style. However, there are certain forbidden words that cannot be translated as they have specific meanings in Bahasa Indonesia. The words on the list of forbidden words are PBB, PKS, and PPP. Please note that if any given article to be translated contains one or all of the forbidden words mentioned above, it is important not to translate them. Instead, they should be kept as they are. With that said, the following article is to be translated as follows: According to data from the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) in Kendari, as of Saturday (9/3/2024), 3,248 houses were flooded. A total of 3,233 families were affected by the flood, and 15 families were affected by landslides.

In addition, the flood also resulted in five houses being submerged, and several residents being injured. Even a resident, named Serda Pande Pratama, died after being electrocuted while cleaning his residence. The Head of the Kendari BPBD Executing Agency, Fadlil Suparma, did not respond to calls and questions when contacted.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Residents rescued their belongings carried away by the flood mixed with mud that hit the Kendari region, Southeast Sulawesi, early Thursday morning (7/3/2024). Thousands of houses were affected by this persistent flood.

Head of the Kendari Communication and Informatics Office, Nismawati, stated that the government is currently focusing on post-disaster management. In addition to communal kitchens, efforts are also being made to clean up and transport the remaining flood debris in residential areas. This is due to the fact that several flood-prone areas still contain mud and debris.

In addition, the government is also ensuring data on houses and buildings affected by flash floods are being collected. This data is necessary to provide aid through both central and regional government budgets.

"Regarding residents who are still anxious and traumatized, the government is also still looking for long-term solutions. This situation occurred due to various factors that have occurred for years, both in terms of drainage and sediment," said Nismawati."

Also read: Flash Floods Paralyze Hospitals in Kendari

Previously, the Secretary of Kendari Region, Ridwansyah Taridala, announced that the government has declared a state of emergency for floods for three days starting Thursday (7/3/2024). Along with that, efforts for handling and data collection are still ongoing.

The government is still focused on handling priority locations. Heavy equipment has been deployed to assist in the cleanup of mud and debris carried by flash floods in villages and housing complexes. Public kitchens have also been set up in two of the most affected locations.

Despite this, several difficulties are also faced due to the large number of affected residents. Some areas have not yet been reached due to a lack of equipment and personnel. All devices, down to the lowest level, are assigned to handle the impacts of floods together with other institutions.

Regarding the cause of the flood, Ridwansyah said that the rainfall was indeed extreme, reaching up to 170 millimeters per day. In addition, many drains were shallow and narrow. Several cleaning efforts are periodically carried out.

KOMPAS/SAIFUL RIJAL YUNUS

Water flowed swiftly in the newly revitalized Kadia River in Kendari, South Sulawesi, on Monday (4/3/2024). Several areas in the city were previously submerged in floodwaters due to heavy rain.