Flooding and landslides inundate 50 hectares of rice fields in Sigi, Indonesia

Central Sulawesi's Sigi regency is grappling with the aftermath of severe flooding and landslides that struck Toro Village in Kulawi District on Sunday afternoon. Approximately 50 hectares of community rice fields have been inundated, disrupting local agriculture.

The disaster was triggered by a combination of heavy rainfall and a narrowed river channel, which caused the river to overflow its banks. The overflowing water submerged rice paddies and a rice-polishing mill. Landslides also occurred in the village, impacting a connecting road between Toro and Sungku villages.

Despite the significant damage to agricultural land and infrastructure, local authorities reported that there were no casualties or displaced residents. The head of the Central Sulawesi Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD Sulteng), Asbudianto, stated that the immediate need is for river normalization to prevent future occurrences.

Sigi Regent Moh Rizal Intjenae has instructed the BPBD and the Public Works Agency to address the river issue promptly. The plan includes normalizing the river upstream of the village and creating a more secure water flow path to ensure the safety of residents.