Three trucks carrying Agustiar Sabran's rice aid packages departed from Palangka Raya City to Kapuas District on Thursday (January 25).
Agustiar Sabran, Indonesia's House of Representatives (DPR RI) member providing the rice aid, said he had deployed a team of personnel to disaster zones in districts, such as Kapuas and Kotawaringin Timur, before sending the aid trucks to help those in need.
Sabran said his initiated relief aid for the flood victims is purely a humanitarian mission that has nothing to do with the upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections, scheduled on February 14.
On Friday, the Central Kalimantan administration also sent aid trucks carrying 100 thousand staple food packages to the disaster areas along the Barito river bank. The packages would then be distributed to affected households.
ANTARA reported earlier that one city and five districts in Central Kalimantan Province had got inundated following recent intense rainfall.
The affected regions are Palangka Raya City and the districts of Murung Raya, Barito Selatan, Kotawaringin Barat, and Kapuas, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Head of BNPB's Data Center, Information, and Disaster Communication Unit Abdul Muhari remarked that Murung Raya was the first district in Central Kalimantan that was impacted by the flash floods.
The floods hit 38 villages in six sub-districts since January 15. As a result, some 31,178 residents got affected, while 9,527 houses and 28 schools were inundated by the floodwaters, he said.
As of January 20, the floodwaters still reached an average height of 50-200 centimeters. Hence, the Murung Raya district government declared an emergency response status, made effective from Jan 17 to Feb 15.
In Barito Utara District, the floods submerged certain areas of 11 villages in six sub-districts.
The floodwaters impacted 40,067 residents and inundated 7,274 houses, 13 schools, three health facilities, 13 houses of worship, five village offices, and two traditional markets, he stated.
As of January 20, the height of the floodwaters was reported to get higher, he remarked, adding that the BPBD-Barito Utara Office has coordinated with a joint team of personnel from related agencies.
In Barito Selatan District, the floodwaters inundated certain areas of four sub-districts affecting 43,461 residents, while 3,602 houses were submerged by floodwaters reaching an average height of 100-250 centimeters.
Related news: Floods hit six regions in Central Kalimantan: BNPB
Related news: Floods swamp West Kalimantan's villages near land border with Malaysia
Translator: Adi W, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Tia Mutiasari
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