Heavy rain and overflowing rivers flood two jorong in Agam, West Sumatra

The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Agam Regency, West Sumatra, recorded that two jorong in Nagari Sungai Batang, Tanjung Raya Subdistrict, were inundated by floodwater after rivers in the area overflowed on Monday afternoon.

“Jorong Kubu and Jorong Nagari were flooded, based on reports we received from the nagari government,” said the Head of Agam BPBD, Rahmat Lasmono, in Lubuk Basung on Monday.

He said that in Jorong Kubu, water reached around 30 centimetres over the road due to the overflow of the Sungai Batang Kumayo. Meanwhile, in Jorong Nagari, the water level in the Sungai Batang Rangeh had risen, although conditions remained safe.

“The Nagari Sungai Batang government has urged residents to remain alert to the disaster and to evacuate immediately to safer locations,” he said.

He added that a task force had been placed on standby to deploy to the two affected jorong.

“We are preparing personnel to go to the location to assist residents affected by the flood,” he said.

Should rainfall remain high, he added, flooding would likely strike the area again, as the river had become silted.

However, the Balai Wilayah Sungai (River Basin Authority) V Padang is currently working to normalise the Sungai Batang Kumayo.

“Heavy equipment belonging to the BWS has cleared the material that had accumulated in the riverbed,” said Rahmat Lasmono.