Flash Floods Submerge 16,156 Houses in North Musi Rawas

Palembang (ANTARA) - A flash flood has submerged at least 16,156 residential units in North Musi Rawas Regency (Muratara), South Sumatra, following heavy rainfall that lashed the area since early Thursday (7/5).

The Secretary of the BPBD in Muratara, Mathir, when contacted in Muratara on Saturday, explained that as of midday, preliminary data shows 16,156 households or 64,624 individuals directly impacted by the water overflow.

He added that the flood not only targeted settlements but also paralysed public facilities.

Subsequently, the education and health sectors have been significantly affected. Seventeen school units (from kindergarten to high school level) as well as five Auxiliary Community Health Centres (Pustu) and two Village Health Posts (Polindes) are flooded. In terms of places of worship, one prayer room was reported swept away and five other mosques submerged.

“A joint team consisting of BPBD, Social Services, Health Services, Satpol-PP, as well as TNI and Police personnel has been deployed to the location to conduct rapid assessments and evacuate victims,” he said.

He added that the local government has also set up communal kitchens to meet the logistical needs of the affected residents.

“Personnel continue to monitor the situation in the field and conduct initial data collection on the material losses experienced by the community,” he said.

He further noted that based on the latest field observations, water conditions in Karang Jaya Subdistrict have fully receded. In Rupit Subdistrict, water levels are showing a downward trend.

However, vigilance remains heightened for residents in Karang Dapo Subdistrict and Rawas Ilir Subdistrict, as settlements in these two areas are still reported to be flooded as of now.

The BPBD urges the public to remain alert to the potential for follow-up floods if rainfall intensity increases again.

Meanwhile, this disaster has resulted in one toddler’s death.

The Disaster Management Operations Control Centre (Pusdalops-PB) of the BPBD in North Musi Rawas Regency reported that the fatality was a three-year-old girl named Shanum Aqila Fitri.

In addition to the fatality, four residents’ houses were swept away by the current, one unit sustained moderate damage, and six others experienced minor damage.