TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The authority of the New Capital City of Nusantara (IKN) revealed a number of factors that caused the flooding that inundated IKN’s future location in Sepaku, East Kalimantan. New Capital authority secretary Achmad Jaka Santos Adiwijaya claimed that the flood was caused by rain from upstream areas and unmaintained floodwater tunnels.

"There are also other factors such as erosion, sedimentation, and river shallowing," said Jaka Santos in a statement received by Tempo on Monday, March 20, 2023.

The flooding occurred on March 17 and subsided on March 18, 2023.

Moreover, Jaka also claimed that the New Capital's authority has identified areas that can potentially develop flooding in the Sepaku sub-district, which is notably a lower area compared to its surroundings, and anticipate this situation by constructing facilities to mitigate flooding.

The facilities include reservoirs and retention ponds built by the Public Works and Housing Ministry (PUPR), which are currently being constructed. The government is also building a watershed control infrastructure and rehabilitating the forest areas that need reforestation.

"The New Capital City Authority is committed to paying attention to disaster risk and management, including flooding in affected areas, such as in Sepaku Village," Jaka explained.

RIRI RAHAYU

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