Floods hit four villages in Morowali, Central Sulawesi

Heavy rainfall has triggered floods in four villages in Bungku Tengah, Morowali, Central Sulawesi, submerging homes and roads since Sunday, May 24.

Morowali Regent Iksan Baharudin Abdul Rauf has directed all regional apparatus organizations (OPD) to respond swiftly to manage the flood's impact. "The importance of rapid action and cross-agency collaboration to anticipate the impact of the flood so as not to further harm the community. I went this morning to check, how can there not be flooding, all the drains are blocked," he stated in Morowali on Monday.

The affected villages are Mendui, Bahoruru, Bente, and Matansala in the Bungku Tengah sub-district. The flooding followed intense downpours on Sunday afternoon. Iksan has instructed the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Morowali Regency to immediately take anticipatory measures against potential subsequent floods.

He emphasized that relevant agencies must act quickly without waiting for budget processes in urgent situations. Iksan specifically directed the Environmental Agency (DLH) and the Public Works Agency (PU) to strengthen cooperation in handling the disaster on the ground. "I give orders to the disaster section to anticipate floods. Related agencies, this is a disaster, borrow the DLH excavator, PU work together, all of them," he said.

The BPBD of Central Sulawesi Province reported that the high-intensity rain on Sunday caused rivers to overflow into residential areas and roads, with water levels reaching approximately 80 centimeters. This resulted in difficult access for two-wheeled vehicles on several road sections, approximately two kilometers long, due to the high discharge and strong current of the floodwaters. The BPBD of Central Sulawesi, along with the Morowali Regency BPBD, has conducted assessments in the affected areas and evacuated residents from riverbanks to anticipate further flooding.