Pontianak, W Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Unremitting torrential rains unleashed a flood fury that inundated 51 villages in 13 sub-districts in Sambas District, West Kalimantan Province.
"Based on the temporary data that came in, 51 villages in13 sub-districts were submerged by subsequent floods," Yusran, head of the the Sambas District Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD), stated on Tuesday.
Yusran attributed the flooding to high-intensity rains and the rain waters from upstream areas.
Sejangkung, Sajingan Besar, and Galing were among the flood-stricken sub-districts.
"Based on provisional data, the sub-districts of Sejangkung, Sajingan Besar, and Galing are among the worst affected," he remarked.
Flood victims are being offered relief aid in the form of rice, instant noodles, and clothing from the Sambas authorities, mass organizations, and individuals.
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Meanwhile, Sendoyan Village Chief Juliansyah noted that floodwaters in his village, located in Sejangkung Sub-district, reached a height of up to 50 centimeters (cm), as compared to 80 cm during the flooding that occurred last month.
The country had been stricken by a total of 197 natural disasters during the January 1-23 period, according to data of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). Most of those disasters were hydrometeorological in nature comprising 134 floods, 31 landslides, and 24 whirlwinds, that had claimed 184 lives, injured 2,700 people, rendered nine people missing, and affected or displaced 1.9 million others.
As compared to January 2020, during the corresponding period, BNPB recorded 297 disasters that hit across Indonesia, especially massive flooding in Jakarta and the surrounding areas, and claimed 91 lives.
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