Students of 47 elementary schools and 20 junior high schools in Aceh Tamiang district, Aceh, have been forced to remain home due to floodwaters inundating their schools as well as the road access to schools.
“According to data issued by the district education office, the flooding has inundated 67 school buildings,” Aceh Tamiang district spokesperson Agusliayana Devita informed here on Saturday.
As a result, learning activities in the affected schools have been suspended until further notice, she said, adding that the homes of many students have also been flooded.
Meanwhile, head of the Aceh Tamiang Education Office, Kairuddin, said that he has allowed the affected schools to suspend learning activities due to the impact of the catastrophe that has forced locals to seek refuge elsewhere.
“The permission (for temporarily suspending teaching and learning activities) is being given if the schools are inundated or people must take refuge. But, we have not issued any instruction for a holiday,” he added.
In response to the flooding, which was triggered by the recent downpour and river overflow, Aceh Tamiang district head Mursil said that he has declared a disaster emergency status, which will remain effective for 14 days from October 30, 2022.
Several parts of Indonesia are prone to natural disasters. On October 8, for instance, floods inundated parts of six sub-districts in East Aceh district, forcing 2,436 residents to flee to safer places.
Most of the flood victims took refuge in village centers, buildings for religious rituals (meunasah), mosques, and traditional Islamic schools (dayah), according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
In the initial two months of 2021, several hydrological disasters struck the islands of Sumatra, Java, Kalimantan, and Sulawesi.
On the island of Kalimantan, massive floods and landslides were reported in several parts of South Kalimantan following incessant downpour on January 12, 2021.
The floods affected the districts of Banjar, Tapin, Tabalong, Balangan, and Hulu Sungai Tengah, and the cities of Tanah Laut and Banjar Baru.
They reportedly claimed 15 lives, inundated 24,379 homes, and displaced 39,549 people.
Source: Antara News