KALSEL - Two sub-districts in Tanah Laut, South Kalimantan, named Kurau and Bumi Makmur, have been inundated by floods that reach up to two meters. The high amount of water makes the districts look as if it's lost.

"We have carried out large-scale evacuations in the last three days," said the Regent of Tanah Laut, Sukamta, Saturday (17/1/2021).

According to the head of the sub-district, residents were evacuated to several villages in Tambang Ulang District. Some are also placed in Pelaihari.

Sukamta admitted that the flood earlier this year was the biggest in his 34-year history living in a district known as Bumi Tuntung Pandang.

Until now, only three sub-districts are relatively safe from flooding, although there has also been an increase in water level at Batu Ampar, Jorong and Kintap Districts.

Meanwhile, all eight other sub-districts affected by flood with varying water levels, like Bati-Bati, Tambang Ulang, Kurau, Bumi Makmur, Pelaihari, Panyipatan, Takisung and Bajuin.

"In total there are about 4,000 houses affected and 13,000 people evacuated. Some of them are still staying at their house, but we still encourage them so they want to be evacuated if the conditions are no longer possible," he explained.

Reporting from Antara, the flood also cut off two bridges, the bridge on the national road connecting Angsau and Pabahan sub-districts to Pelaihari City, the district capital, as well as the bridge connecting Kurau and Takisung Districts.

The broken bridge in Takisung isolated two villages, Tabanio and Pagatan Besar. The SAR team immediately tried to evacuate the residents.

"Our focus is that the people must be safe, the people must not starve and the people must be healthy," said the head of the sub-district. **/yeye