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Flash floods injure 10 in North Sumatra's South Tapanuli regency

Source
Tempo - December 19, 2024

Irsyan Hasyim, Jakarta – Flash floods sweep South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra, on Wednesday afternoon, December 18, 2024, injuring ten people. The floods were caused by a torrential downpour that struck two districts, Batang Angkola and Tano Tombangan.

Based on data collected by the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) on Wednesday night, 495 families were affected by the flash floods. In addition to the injured residents, the flash floods forced 250 families to evacuate to the integrated service post (Posyandu) Somaninggir, Kota Tua Church, and Hasadaon City Palace.

"In several locations, the mud was 50 centimeters thick, and joint personnel continue to conduct clean-up efforts with the help of residents and village apparatus," said the Head of the Center for Disaster Data, Information, and Communication of BNPB, Abdul Muhari, Thursday, December 19.

According to Muhari, the South Tapanuli Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) has provided assistance and coordinated with affected districts as well as village apparatuses to anticipate further impacts of the flash floods.

"The electrical network has been disrupted in affected areas, while the water has started to recede," he said.

BNPB urges local governments and communities in South Tapanuli Regency to remain alert for the potential risk of subsequent flooding given the weather forecast that indicates heavy rainfall in the affected areas.

Weather forecast by BMKG

According to the weekly weather forecast issued by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) for the period of December 17-23, 2024, North Sumatra is among the regions expected to be hit by rainfall. BMKG said strong winds will sweep the western and southern regions of Indonesia alongside the increased rainfall.

The expected rainfall in Indonesia is caused by the strengthening Asian monsoon winds. Additionally, the weak La Nina phenomenon can be amplified by the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) phenomenon, and the equatorial waves also contribute to the significant increase in rain cloud formation in Indonesian regions over the next week.

Source: https://en.tempo.co/read/1954680/flash-floods-injure-10-in-north-sumatras-south-tapanuli-regenc

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