Heavy rain triggers fast-flowing floods in five North Gorontalo villages

The water is flowing so violently that it hinders evacuation efforts. Even by 9:00 PM WITA, the floodwaters remain high and fast-moving in the residential areas, and with the roads pitch-black, evacuation remains difficult. Gorontalo (ANTARA) – Five villages in Biau District, North Gorontalo Province, have been submerged by fast-flowing floodwaters since Tuesday afternoon at 3:00 PM WITA due to overflow from the Biau River Basin, triggered by heavy rain that persisted until Tuesday night. Daniel Kalibato, the coordinator of the Disaster Response Team (Tagana) in Tolinggula Subdistrict, said the floodwaters, reaching up to adults’ knees, continue to affect five villages in the subdistrict: Bualo, Luhuto, Omuto, Biau, and Didingga. The worst flooding is in Didingga Village, specifically in the remote indigenous community (KAT) settlement housing 64 households. According to local government information from Didingga Village’s Buade Hamlet Head Radem Hamsah, some residents have carried out self-evacuations, but many remain in their homes due to the ongoing fast-flowing floods. Three houses have completely collapsed and one was swept away by the floodwaters. There are currently no reports of casualties. Previously, the main Sulawesi transit road passing through the five villages was submerged around 4:00 PM WITA, but the floodwaters on the main road have since receded, although residential areas still experience fast-flowing floods. He added that police from the Tolinggula Sector and Tagana personnel are on site to assist with security and evacuation efforts.