Thousands Affected as Floodwaters Submerge Homes
Thousands of residents have been affected after heavy rains triggered flash flooding across several urban villages in Kendari, central Indonesia, on Tuesday.
Footage shows the flood-stricken Baruga District completely submerged, with residents wading through flooded streets in an effort to salvage their belongings. Nearby, excavators work to clear the mud and debris from roads as rescue and recovery operations continue.
“The flood hit at 4 am, the water had already risen. A lot of our belongings were submerged – chairs, a mattress, clothes – because we didn’t have time to save them,” recounted flood victim Yuli.
Residents Call for Immediate Government Action
Residents have urged the government to provide swift and direct support for flood victims, including emergency shelters, while renewing calls for authorities to address the recurring river overflows affecting the region.
“The government should act as quickly as possible to address this disaster, so that similar incidents do not recur as they usually do. They should immediately begin constructing the levee so that the project can be completed quickly and flooding does not occur again,” said resident Fera.
“The main issue has been the floodgates in this area,” stated Cornelius Padang, Head of Kendari city BPBD. “Therefore, we expect immediate measures to be taken, and we have already held a joint meeting regarding this matter. Hopefully, after this flooding, the relevant authorities will take prompt action.”
Emergency Declared Following River Overflow
An estimated 1,300 homes have been affected, with around 700 properties completely submerged due to severe flooding from the Wanggu River, which had overflowed into densely populated lowlands.
Floodwaters rose dangerously from a few inches to around one meter in the hardest-hit areas, according to reports.
The local municipal government has officially declared a ‘wet hydrometeorological disaster’ emergency response status in the area from May 11 to May 17.
Article by Viory
