Flood Swamps 3,173 Homes in Indonesia's Wajo Regency, South Sulawesi

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported on Thursday morning, August 8, that the floods that inundated 10 villages and subdistricts in Pitumpanua district, Wajo regency, South Sulawesi, have receded. The flood, which reached a height of 120 centimeters, had inundated the area since Tuesday, August 6.

The BNPB said the flood came as a result of heavy rains that hit Wajo Regency on Saturday, August 3.

"Due to heavy rainfall, the Awo and Siwa rivers could not contain the water discharge and it overflowed into residential areas," said Abdul Muhari, head of BNPB's Data, Information and Disaster Communication Center, in a written statement on Thursday, August 8.

According to Muhari, the first flood occurred on Saturday, August 3, but receded quickly. However, torrential rains that fell throughout the day caused the river to rise again on Tuesday, August 6.

"This occurrence affected 10,752 people and flooded 3,173 housing units," said Muhari. "No residents were displaced by the flooding this time."

Ten areas affected by the flooding include the villages of Lompolong, Kaluku, Alesilurung, Jauh Pandang, Tanrongi, Lacinde, Tobarakka Village, Benteng, Bulete and Siwa.

The BNPB advised the residents of Wajo Regency, especially those living in Pitumpanua District, to remain alert to the potential risk of subsequent flooding as the weather forecast from the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) shows that the area still has the potential for rain until today.

Irsyan Hasyim (Contributor)

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