Parigi Moutong Regency declares flash flood emergency status
The Parigi Moutong Regency administration in Central Sulawesi has declared a state of emergency after a flash flood struck Avolua Village in North Parigi District.
“The state of emergency will last for the next 14 days,” said Acting Head of the Parigi Moutong Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Moh Rivai when contacted from Palu on Wednesday.
He explained that the emergency response runs from 26 August to 8 September 2026, with activities focused on meeting the basic needs of disaster victims, clearing mud that has settled in residential areas and normalising the river.
Rapid action is being taken because post-flood recovery will take time, given the large amount of timber logs and mud debris scattered across the area.
“The emergency response naturally involves cross-sectoral collaboration. At present, around 200 TNI/Polri personnel have joined the teams on the ground,” he said.
He noted that traffic along the Trans Sulawesi route in Avolua Village, which had been disrupted because the road surface was buried under approximately 500 metres of mud, is now passable for vehicles.
Heavy equipment is continuing to work to clear mud and timber logs swept onto the road by the flood.
“Traffic was congested for a while, but it has now returned to normal and vehicles can pass through. Even so, we urge road users to remain cautious because the road is still slippery,” Rivai said.
The flash flood was reported to have occurred in the early hours of Wednesday (26/8) at around 01.00 WITA, triggered by heavy rain that fell across the Parigi Moutong area, causing the river to overflow and carry mud and wood debris into residential areas.
Preliminary data released by the local BPBD shows that around 12 houses were damaged, 50 houses were submerged in mud, approximately 500 metres of the Trans Sulawesi road was covered in sediment, and one durian processing factory was also affected.
“During the emergency response period, we are prioritising basic services for the community,” he said.