Three Houses Collapse in Balikpapan After Being Hit by Waves; Residents Evacuated

Three houses in the coastal area of Klandasan Ulu, Balikpapan, collapsed after being hit by high waves during a tidal surge in the early hours of Friday. The incident, which occurred around 4:44 a.m. local time, completely destroyed the homes and left one other house severely damaged and uninhabitable.

The collapsed houses belonged to Misnan and Zainah, Syamsudin and Suriyani Ningsih, and Hendra and Mustika Sari. The dwellings were occupied by several family members, including children and toddlers. Despite the extensive damage, there were no fatalities. Residents managed to evacuate after feeling the structures shake from the force of the waves.

Suriyani Ningsih, one of the homeowners, recounted that her family had already begun preparing to flee when they noticed the house pillars shifting. She estimated the waves that struck the property reached a height of three metres. ‘We were already on alert. No one was sleeping in the bedrooms. As soon as the house started to collapse, everyone ran out. We were even in the water while trying to save ourselves,’ she said, adding that the family only suffered minor injuries from nails, planks, and zinc sheets during the escape.

Sukandar, the head of the local neighbourhood unit, confirmed that three houses were completely destroyed and a fourth was affected, forcing its occupants to also seek refuge. He stated that coordination was underway with the sub-district, district, and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Balikpapan to determine the next steps for handling the disaster. Sukandar emphasised the urgent need for logistical aid, clothing, and temporary housing, noting that the victims include school-age children and two infants whose belongings were swept away or soaked by the seawater. Following the incident, residents and local officials worked together to assist the victims and assess the damage, while the city government began coordinating relief efforts.