Indonesia, Flooding in Bengkalis Regency (Riau)

JAKARTA - Heavy rains have been pouring down the Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province, since this morning at around 09.00 WIB. This condition caused one village in Mandau District, Bengkalis Regency to be flooded. The flood that inundated this residential area had a water level of up to 50 centimeters.

Based on the BNPB Operations Control Center (Pusdalops) report today, Sunday (15/5) as many as 50 affected families are in Babussalam Village, Mandau District.

Temporary data from the Bengkalis Regency Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) noted that as many as 500 housing units were affected, and agricultural land was also submerged, but it is still in the data collection stage.

To speed up emergency handling, the Bengkalis Regency BPBD together with elements of the TNI, Polri and other relevant agencies were at the scene to conduct a quick assessment of the situation, collect data and further coordinate related to accelerating the handling of the flood.

Meanwhile, the weather forecast from the BMKG in the next two days (16-17/5) states that the potential for moderate to heavy rain accompanied by lightning and strong winds has the potential to occur in some areas of the Meranti Islands Regency, Kampar Regency, Bengkalis Regency, Kabupaten Meranti Regency. Ogan Hilir, Indragiri Hilir Regency, and Siak Regency in the morning and evening or early morning.

As a response to the weather forecast from the BMKG, the Riau Province BPBD has forwarded early warning information on the potential for heavy rains to relevant agencies and the public to increase awareness of the threat of wet hydrometeorological disasters, such as floods, flash floods and landslides.

BNPB appealed to local governments and residents to remain vigilant and ready to face the potential danger of aftershocks. Vigilance needs to be increased considering that the Bengkalis area is an area with a moderate to high potential flood hazard, based on the inaRISK analysis.