Five districts in Southeast Aceh hit by flooding as rivers overflow

The Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBA) has reported that 11 villages across five districts in Southeast Aceh Regency have been hit by flooding due to heavy rain and overflowing rivers in the region.

“As a result of rainfall since yesterday afternoon, Sunday (13/9), up to today, 11 villages have been submerged by floods,” said the Head of BPBA, Bahron Bakti, in his report in Banda Aceh on Monday.

Bahron stated that the floods were caused by the overflowing of the Lawe Bulan, Lawe Kisam, and Lawe Kinga rivers, which were unable to contain the increasing volume of rainwater.

Ultimately, the river water overflowed into residential areas on Sunday night around 21:30 WIB. The flood also carried wood, stones, and mud from the rivers into residents’ homes.

“The flash flood brought materials such as wood and stones. Water and mud entered and flooded people’s houses,” he said.

“This location (the Bailey bridge) has been inspected by the Ministry of Public Works during their visit to Southeast Aceh. There was also the breaching of several embankments along the Lawe Bulan, Lawe Kisam, and Lawe Kinga rivers,” he added.

The 11 submerged villages include Pulonas, Kota Kutacane, Pulo Latong, Gumpang Jaya, and Kutacane Lama in the Babussalam District; Pulonas Baru and Lawe Durung in the Lawe Bulan District; Pancar Iman and Kuning I in the Bambel District; Peseluk Pesimbe in the Deleng Pokhkisen District; and Kuta Lesung in the Lawe Sumur District.

Bahron added that the number of affected victims or displaced residents has not yet been confirmed as data collection is still ongoing. The latest reports indicate that water levels have begun to recede.

“In terms of efforts being made, the Southeast Aceh Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has conducted a rapid assessment, deployed Rapid Response Team (TRC) members to the location to collect data, and deployed one unit of an excavator,” concluded Bahron Bakti.