Some 5,500 residents impacted by HST's flood, hundreds evacuate

Barabai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) reported approximately 5,500 residents from 2,000 families in Central Hulu Sungai (HST) District, South Kalimantan, were affected by floods that lasted from Monday to Tuesday.

Head of HST BPBD H Budi Haryanto confirmed as many as 505 residents, especially in the district capital, have fled from their homes.

"Some 15 Of 161 villages and urban villages in HST are affected by flood and landslide," he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the government has provided some temporary shelters to evacuate. At SMAN 1 Barabai some 150 residents took refuge, at the Djoang Building Barabai 25, the Grand Mosque of Riyadhus Shalihin Barabai 150, Langgar (a prayer smaller than mosque) Al-Akhyar on Jalan Ulama Barabai 30, and Shulaha Mosque Barabai 150 refugees.

The villages affected by flood are Aluan Besar, Aluan Bhakti, Aluan Mati, Paya, and Layuh in Batu Benawa Sub-district. Meanwhile, flood in Barabai Sub-district inundated the urban villages of Barabai Selatan, Barabai Utara, Barabai Darat, Barabai Timur, Barabai Barat, Bukat, and Pajukungan Village.

In Batang Alai Utara Sub-district it hit Ilung and Sumanggi Village. Here an embankment was broken and three bridges were damaged, and a road was cracked. While in Haruyan Sub-district the flood occurred in Haruyan Village, and in Pandawan Sub-district it happened in Jaranih and Masira'an villages.

In Hantakan Sub-district, which is a watershed area, several emergency bridges broke again, namely in Timan Village and Wake Village. Meanwhilem A landslide in Pasting Village has covered a road along 50 meters.

A landslide also occurred in Batang Alai Timur Sub-district and covered 50 meters of the road body in Hinas Kiri Village.

"Today the water debit has started to go down, but there is still a potential for rain, so we urge residents to remain vigilant," he said.