Whirlwind damages 17 houses, public facilities in South Kalimantan's HSS

Kandangan, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - A whirlwind damaged dozens of houses in South Hulu Sungai (HSS) District, South Kalimantan Province, on Sunday afternoon, some were severely damaged and others suffered a mild damage.

Head of HSS Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) Syamsudin here on Monday (Jan 10, 2022) said that the strong wind had damaged not only old buildings, but also the new buildings with a damage level ranging from 75 to 20 percent.

"Data of houses affected, seven in Siang Gantung Village, six in Baru Village, and one in Bajayau Village, Daha Barat Sub-disrict, were confirmed of damage after the disaster," he said.

In addition, each one house in Sungai Mandala Village, Pakan Dalam Village, Daha Utara Sub-district, and Tabihi Village, Padang Batung Sub-district, which were also hit by the whirlwind.

The agency immediately conducted veryfying in the field to assess the loss suffered by the residents, then to provide house repairment assistance if residents submit their application and after verification had done.

Meanwhile, the whirlwind also has damaged a terminal post of Transportation Agency, a police post, and a mosque dome in Daha Barat Sub-district. In fact, a number of trees fell, incluidng at Antaludin Bridge, Gang Baiturrahim, Karang Jawa, and Jalan Nirwana, Kandangan Sub-district.

"Some of them covered the road. Whereas in bagian Bakarung Village, Angkinang Sub-district, a tree hit TK Al-Qur'an learning center but with only 10 percent damage. All have been handled," he said.

Based on the BMKG weather forecast, HSS still has the potential for heavy rain accompanied by lightning and stong wind from 10 to 12 of January.

The agency appealed the public if they are at home see the potential of stong wind to immediately take shelter to a safe place. For motorists, dodge immediately, not under trees, and take refuge in sturdy buildings.