Heavy Rain Floods Lopian, Central Tapanuli; Residents Urge Drainage Construction

Heavy rain that battered Central Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, caused floodwater to once again inundate residential areas in Lopian Subdistrict, Badiri District. The incident occurred on Monday (3/8) at around 15:00 local time, disrupting the activities of local residents.

According to reports from residents in Neighbourhood III, Lopian Subdistrict, the water level in the residential area reached approximately 30 cm. Although the water entered their homes, a number of residents chose to remain in place while monitoring weather conditions.

One local resident, Aprianto Gulo, explained that this flood was purely triggered by very high rainfall intensity over a fairly long duration. He confirmed that the floodwater did not carry hazardous materials, unlike several incidents in other areas.

“This flood was purely caused by high rainfall and was not accompanied by drifting logs or other materials,” Aprianto said on Monday afternoon.

The recurring floods each time heavy rain falls have prompted residents to demand that the Central Tapanuli Regency Government take concrete steps. The absence of an adequate drainage system is regarded as the main cause of water being trapped in residential areas.

Another resident, Pati Mendrofa, requested that drainage construction in Lopian Subdistrict be included among the region’s development priorities. According to him, such infrastructure is an urgent long-term solution that must be realised.

“A good drainage system will be the solution to reduce the risk of recurring floods when rainfall is high, so that residents can carry out their activities more safely and comfortably,” said Pati.

Residents hope that relevant agencies will conduct direct inspections to map flood-prone points and plan the construction of water channels capable of handling high rainfall discharge in the future.