Gorontalo Utara Regency to Relocate Residents of Didingga Remote Indigenous Community

The Gorontalo Utara Regency Government will soon relocate residents living in the Didingga Remote Indigenous Community (KAT) in Didingga Village, Biau Subdistrict.

‘The Didingga KAT is located in Buade Hamlet, Didingga Village, inhabited by 54 households,’ said Gorontalo Utara Regent Thariq Modanggu in Gorontalo on Wednesday.

The settlement is situated along a river basin (DAS) with a 30-metre protective embankment. However, heavy rainfall in Biau Subdistrict on Tuesday (26 May) caused the embankment to breach, leading to floodwaters inundating the settlement and the main Sulawesi cross-island road in the area.

Thariq explained that this situation caused the river to form a new channel behind the settlement.

‘Previously, the river flowed alongside the KAT settlement, but now a new channel has formed directly behind it, creating the appearance of two rivers,’ he said.

Thariq stated that the local government successfully applied for post-flood river revitalisation from the Sulawesi Region II River Authority for the 2025 fiscal year. The revitalisation work involved straightening the river course to prevent flood-causing overflows.

‘Unfortunately, the river embankment has breached again, causing flash floods. This situation poses a serious threat to residents’ safety, so the KAT settlement must be evacuated immediately due to the high risk of further flooding from heavy rainfall,’ Thariq said.

The settlement has been evacuated, except for men safeguarding their belongings, while authorities ensure safe evacuation sites,’ he added. The breach has been coordinated with the provincial government and relevant agencies for post-flood mitigation efforts.

Flash floods struck five villages in Biau Subdistrict on Tuesday (26 May) at 15:00 WITA, with Didingga Village still submerged. However, flooding in Huluto, Omuto, Bualo and Biau villages has receded.

Affected residents in these villages have begun clearing mud that has entered their homes.

The worst flooding submerged the Didingga KAT settlement, with water levels reaching window height and strong currents.

There were no fatalities, but three houses collapsed, one was washed away, and 30 others sustained damage.

The local government has set up a communal kitchen using borrowed facilities from MBG.