Thousands Homes Inundated in Balangan

Balangan, South Kalimantan (AntaranewsKalsel) - Thousands of homes have been inundated in flood water coming from the overflow of Sungai Batang in Balangan, South Kalimantan.

Until Saturday (28/1) morning, Halong and Juai Sub-districts still flooding, which reaches a height adult chest.

Head of the Balangan Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Alive Yoesfah Love said in addition to flooding, some residents in the villages also isolated by the flood.

"The intensity of rainfall is quite high in the Balangan, resulting in river floods. Since a few days ago Juai already flooded as a result of overflow of the river, then on Wednesday (25/1) until Thursday (26/1), again heavy rain poured Balangan. While water is not going down but continuously overflowing, "he explained.

In fact, he added, according to the residents, such kind of flood occurred about 1983 ago, when the flood came from overflowing rivers inundated two highest sub-districts in Balangan.

According to data from BPBDs, villages in the Halong sub-district flooded are Kapul 290 houses, Hauwai 34 houses, Baruh Panyambaran 315 houses, then 64 houses in Binju Village, Bangkal 41 houses, and Binjai Punggal 34 homes.

In the Juai are Lalayau Village 162 houses and six public facilities, Mihu 80 homes and two public buildings, Bata 65 houses and one public facility, Galumbang 60 homes and four  public facilities, Juai 123 homes and three public facilities.

Furthermore Teluk Bayur 238 houses and four public facilities, Mungkur Uyam 43 homes and four public facilities, Village of Buntu Karau 190 houses and eight public facilities.

Until Saturday (28/1) morning, BPBDs, Tagana, Police and TNI as well as volunteers continue to help the isolated villagers, either using traditional boats, rubber boats, and other equipment, to be gathered in a safe place, as well as citizens to build a public kitchen.

The BPBD head still urged residents to remain vigilant and to anticipate successive rain that may occur.