Tanah Bumbu BPBD evacuates 9,773 flood victims in Satui

Batulicin, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) - Tanah Bumbu Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) has evacuated 9,773 people affected by flood in Satui Sub-district, Saturday.  

"Together with TNI, Polri, Basarnas and volunteers, we evacuate (victims) to safer places," said Chief Executive of Tanah Bumbu BPBD Sulhadi in Batulicin.

He said some residents were reluctant to be evacuated. They preferred to stay home for reasons of protecting their valuables, and some people chosing to flee to relatives' homes.

Flood victims were evacuated to disaster posts that have been prepared by the local government in every affected village. 

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BPBD ensured that the local government has established 11 command posts by involving Social Agency (Dinas Sosial) and volunteers to accomodate flood victims.

"Floods disaster in Satui occurred since Thursday after the intensity of rain in Tanah Bumbu was quite high causing the water discharge in the river overflowing into residential areas," BPBD chief said.

Nine villages in Satui affected by the floods were Barakat Mufakat, Sinar Bulan, Beruntung Raya, Sungai Danau, Sejahtera Mulia, Sungai Danau Raya, Satui Timur, Makmur Mulia, and Satui Barat.

Some 2,993 families or 9.773 people in the nine villages were affected by the disaster.

"Alhamdulillah (Thank God) there is no fatality," Sulhadi said.

Currently, the condition of the flood that hit the area are gradually receding. In fact the latest information said it has receded to 75 cm from the previous flood height of three meters.

"The regional government has declared alert status from June 5 to 20, 2024, and assistance for flood victims has begun coming from the Provincial Government of South Kalimantan, as well as companies in Tanah Bumbu," said Sulhadi.

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