JAKARTA (ANN/THE JAKARTA POST) – Numerous areas in South Sulawesi experienced extensive flooding since Tuesday following several days of heavy rainfall, which caused three rivers to overflow, prompting thousands to flee to safer locations.
The flood impacted the provincial capital of Makassar along with Maros and Gowa, leading officials to discharge water from Gowa’s Bilibili Dam at an overflow rate of 1,000 cubic metres per second, according to official data.
Flooding also inundated more than 450 electricity substations in the province, resulting in approximately 23,600 households losing power.
In the severely impacted Maros regency, over 100,000 individuals in 14 districts were affected by flooding, with certain regions experiencing a maximum flood depth of 1 metre.
Maros Regent Chaidir Syam instructed that all regional government facilities be made available for housing evacuees, and to establish emergency kitchens at district offices. He also commanded the provisionary closure of all schools in the regency and civil servants to telecommute.
Waters from the flood reached a depth of about 50 centimetres on Jl. Trans Sulawesi, a key route linking Maros and Makassar, entrapping drivers for as long as five hours on Tuesday evening.
One driver, Saharuddin, reported that he spent the night in his vehicle because he was unable to cross the flooded road.
Towadeng, head of the Maros Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), stated that this was the second significant flood to hit the regency within three months.
“We also experienced significant flooding in December 2024, but this flood is deeper and more widespread compared to last year’s. We are working with the Maros Social Agency and the Search and Rescue Agency to evacuate affected residents,” he said.
In Makassar, four neighbourhoods experienced floodwaters 10-70 cm deep, prompting over 2,100 residents to abandon their homes.
BPBD Makassar has established 24 temporary shelters across the city, including locations such as mosques, schools and gymnasiums.
In the past few days, six districts in Gowa regency – Bontonompo, Tinggimoncong and Parangloe – have faced flooding, severe winds and landslides. Floodwaters, varying from 50 cm to 170 cm deep, submerged numerous houses in the region.
The acting governor of South Sulawesi, Fadjry Djufry, announced a state of emergency on Wednesday due to the extensive flooding. Fadjry also vowed to seek “permanent solutions” to stop repeated flooding in the province.
In recent months, various regions have experienced a number of hydrometeorological disasters caused by the La Niña weather phenomenon, resulting in heavy rainfall and a more prolonged rainy season in the country.
The South Sulawesi division of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) predicted that moderate to heavy rainfall would persist for the next three days, especially in the northern region of the province.
The agency has forecasted a much lighter rainfall in the upcoming days in the west province, where several of the presently flooded regions are located.
It also alerted to a higher likelihood of landslides in the northern highlands of South Sulawesi.
