Lahat, KOTABARI.COM – As many as four villages in the Pajar Bulan Subdistrict, Lahat Regency, South Sumatra, fell victim to floods due to heavy rain on Saturday (1/27/2024). The affected villages include Ulak Bandung Village, Benua Raja Village, Gelung Sakti Village, and Pulau Village.
A tragic incident occurred in Pulau Village, where one house was reported to have been swept away by the floodwaters. The identity of the homeowner whose house was swept away has not yet been confirmed by the authorities. Additionally, two village bridges were destroyed, isolating community access, while rice fields were inundated.
Pajar Bulan Subdistrict Head, Alvika Irnan Syahpura, stated that they are still conducting assessments to determine the number of affected residents. A similar situation also occurred in the Jarai Subdistrict of Lahat Regency, where three villages, namely Nanti Giri, Pama Salak, and Pelajaran, were also flooded on the same day.
Awang Firmansyah, the Jarai Subdistrict Head, confirmed that the early morning rain caused rivers in the area to overflow, submerging residential areas and farmland. Evacuations are underway for children and the elderly as a precautionary measure. Although there have been no reports of casualties so far, the material losses are quite significant.
As of the writing of this report, rain continues to pour in the area, adding to the difficulties faced by local authorities and residents. Authorities urge residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate if the water levels continue to rise. Continuous monitoring is being conducted to anticipate developments in the situation.
The floods that have struck Lahat Regency serve as an important reminder for local authorities to enhance early warning systems and disaster mitigation efforts to protect the community from similar risks in the future.