H

eavy downpours in the last several days have triggered floods, engulfing the Trans-Sumatra highway in North Sumatra and villages on the border of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Timor Leste.

The highway stretch in Aek Natas, North Labuhanbatu regency, was submerged by floods on Monday caused by the pouring rain.

A number of vehicles reportedly stalled in the area, as traffic backed up for 10 kilometers on the highway.

North Sumatra Police chief spokesman Adj. Sr. Comr. Helfi Assegaf said the congestion began at 9:30 a.m. local time in Bandar Durian village. He added that the congestion was triggered by vehicles that fell into a ditch on the side of the road.

'€œWe have deployed officers to disperse the congestion on the Trans-Sumatra highway,'€ Helfi said at the North Sumatra Police headquarters in Medan on Monday.

He added that the flooding between km 252 and 253 on the highway had started on Sunday evening and lasted until noon on Monday. Helfi said the water level reached 50 cm on the highway. He added that flooding was triggered by the overflowing Bandar Durian River as a result of torrential rain over the past few days.

North Sumatra Transportation Agency head Anthony Siahaan said the Trans-Sumatra highway was currently susceptible to floods.

He added that motorists must be aware of a number of flood-prone areas in North Sumatra during the rainy season, such as the eastern route from Medan to Pematangsiantar and from Kisaran, Asahan, to Aek Kanopan, North Labuhanbatu.

Anthony said landslide-prone routes were usually located in mountainous areas, such as the Medan-Brastagi, Siantar-Parapat, Kabanjahe-Kutabuluh, Dairi-Kabanjahe, Sidikalang-Subulussalam, Tarutung-Sibolga and Sipirok-
Panyabungan routes.

He added that the transportation office had coordinated with the Bina Marga Highway directorate general and National Road Implementation Center to provide heavy machinery and crew at these key points.

'€œWe have put officers on standby to anticipate landslides in the susceptible areas,'€ he said.

In East Nusa Tenggara, three villages in West Malaka district, Malaka regency, were engulfed by floods as a result of the bursting Benanain River, dividing the country'€™s border territory with Timor Leste.

'€œThe affected villages are Sikun, Fafoe and Lasaen,'€ said local resident Efraim Bria, who was contacted by Antara national news agency on Monday.

According to him, the overflowing Benanain River swamped the three villages. Despite that, he added, the rain did not originate in the region, but in the upstream areas of South Central Timor regency.

'€œThe floods coming from South Central Timor regency are very threatening,'€ said Efraim.

He added that a number of crops, such as corn, beans, tubers and other short-term crops had been damaged.

'€œWe have coordinated with the village administration to find a solution that will help residents,'€ he said.

Efraim said it was not the peak of the rainy season in Malaka regency, but residents must be aware of flash floods. '€œRivers could overflow, especially rainfall is starting to rise in Malaka,'€ he said.

He said the government should immediately take preemptive measures to deal with social issues triggered by the floods.

He acknowledged that the people in Malaka regency were used to the overflowing Benanain River.

Despite that, he expressed hope that the regency administration could carry out a number of efforts to deal with every possible consequence faced by residents.