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Jakarta Post

Kapuas Hulu in W. Kalimantan declares two-week state of emergency following massive flooding

Tri Indah Oktavianti (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Sun, September 20, 2020

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Kapuas Hulu in W. Kalimantan declares two-week state of emergency following massive flooding An elementary school in Kapuas Hulu regency, West Kalimantan, is inundated by floodwater on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2020. (Courtesy of BNPB/--)

T

he Kapuas Hulu administration in West Kalimantan has declared a 14-day state of emergency in response to massive flooding that damaged at least 980 residential homes in the region last Sunday.

The state of emergency was declared last Monday and is expected to end on Sept. 27. 

National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesperson Raditya Jati said the clean water supply from the local tap water company had not yet been restored for Kapuas Hulu residents. However, the BNPB’s rapid-response team was monitoring the distribution of government-provided staple food and clean water to affected residents. 

“The rapid-response team reported that the food aid both from the West Kalimantan administration and private businesses will be soon delivered to the affected residents,” Raditya said in a written statement on Sunday.

He also reported that the region was gradually recovering from last week’s flood disaster with some residents having returned to the town.

The BNPB noted 11 districts that were severely impacted by the flood, namely North and South Putussibau, Bika, Kalis, Embaloh Hilir, Bunut Hilir, Jongkong, Selimabu, Suhaid, Semitau and Silat Hilir.

Flooding caused by seasonal heavy rainfall in West Kalimantan resulted in water levels rising 100 centimeters last week, inundating hundreds of houses.

No casualties were reported but the disaster has forced residents to flee their homes and find shelter on higher ground.

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has predicted that heavy rainfall coupled with lightning and strong winds will occur in the region on Sunday and Monday and therefore urged residents to stay alert for possible floods, landslides and wind storms.

The BMKG also warned several other provinces including South Sumatra, West Java, South Sulawesi and Papua about the possibility of heavy rainfall and lightning storms on Monday.

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