Floods getting worse, HST announces 7-days disaster emergency response

Barabai, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The floods that are getting worse in Central Hulu Sungai (HST) District, South Kalimantan, have made Regent H Aulia Oktafiandi raise the status from alert to disaster emergency response starting Sunday (Nov 28, 2021) for the next seven days.

He announced the status when he was at the main flood control post at Murakata Stadium, Barabai.

"Considering that many residents are being isolated and (many have been) evacuated, while the water level is increasing, I determine the disaster emergency response status for HST," he stated, while accompanied by acting District Secretary Muhammad Yani.

The raise of water discharge from river overflow that has occurred since Sunday morning has caused nearly 90 percent of urban areas in Barabai to be flooded with a height of 30 cm to 2 meters.

Thousands of houses were also submerged in several sub-districts, including Barabai, Pandawan, Haruyan, Batang Alai Selatan, Batang Alai Timur, Batang Alai Utara, Batu Benawa, and Hantakan.

Related news: HST residents clean after-flood debris


It is estimated that 800 residents of Barabai have fled to higher locations, such as SDN 1 Barabai Timur, SMAN 1 Barabai, the Grand Mosque of Riyadushalihin, Shulaha Mosque, and Joeng Building.

Tap water distribution from PDAM was stopped, and the electricity cut off (by flood), while the weather was claudy and sometimes it rains heavily in several places of the district.

Until nightfall, volunteers and TNI-Polri personnel kept on evacuating residents trapped in the floods in their homes. Volunteers from various districts of Banua Anam (the upstream area consisted of six districts) came to help.

Jalan A Yani, Pajukungan Village, which is the main access to the city of Barabai cannot be passed by two-wheeled vehicles because the water level was over one meter high.

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