Tapin relies on early warning system for flood detection

Acting Tapin Regent Syarifuddin checks the readiness of personnel during the preparedness roll call for floods, landslides, and tornadoes in Rantau, Monday (Dec 4, 2023). ANTARA/Muhammad Fauzi Fadilah

Rantau, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - The Government of Tapin District, South Kalimantan, relies on early warning system to detect flood as disaster anticipation, especially for people living along the riven basin areas.

"To anticipate the impact of disaster, we install early warning system tools. This is an effort to protect people who live along the Tapin River," said acting Regent of Tapin Syarifuddin in Rantau, Monday.

He said the system was installed upstream of the river and was connected to device at the Tapin Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).

"If flooding occurs upstream there will be a notification. It is estimated that there will be a time span of around six-eight hours for the flood to reach densely populated residential areas in North Tapin Sub-district," he said.

Syarifuddin stated that today he has held a joint preparedness roll call involving hundreds of personnel to prepare for floods, landslides, and tornadoes.

"Personnel and equipment are ready," he pointed out.

Head of Tapin BPBD Raniansyah said based on the information from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) the peak rainfall in south Kalimantan will be in January 2024.

"We have now entered the rainy season," he said.

Raniansyah revealed that based on the BPBD's map of vulnerable points in 2022, the potential for flood disasters covers 22 villages and urban villages from seven sub-districts.

It covers the villages of Rantau Kanan, Kupang, Banua Halat Kiri and Banua Halat Kanan in Tapin Utara Sub-district, Tamberangan, Lawahan, Tatakan and Tandui (Tapin Selatan sub-district).

Then, the villages of Bungur, Bungur Baru, Sabah, Linuh, Sabah, Timbung, Kalumpang, Rantau Bujur dan Banua Padang (Bungur sub-district) and Raya Belanti, Binuang, Karangan Putih dan Pulau Pinang (Binuang sub-district).

Miawa Village (Piani sub-district), Gadung and Masta (Bakarangan Sub-district).

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