Indonesia – Floods Affected Thousands in Borneo, 2 Killed in East Nusa Tenggara

At least 2 people have died and 1 is still missing after flash floods swept through a village in East Nusa Tenggara Province Indonesia on 04 September 2021. Elsewhere in the country, provinces on the island of Borneo have seen severe flooding since late August, affecting thousands of residents.

Searching for missing victims after flash flood in Inerie District, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, 04 September 2021. Photo: BPBD Ngada Regency

In East Nusa Tenggara Province, heavy rainfall early on 04 September caused flash floods in Inerie Village, Inerie District, Ngada Regency. Local disaster officials reported 2 people died and 1 is missing after 5 homes were swept away. Furthermore one person was seriously injured and 26 people evacuated.

Borneo Island

Elsewhere in Indonesia, heavy rain has been affecting wide areas of Borneo Island over the last 14 days.

According to Indonesia’s disaster agency BNPB, around 14,000 people were affected by flooding in West Kotawaringin, Seruyan and Katingan Regencies in Central Kalimantan Province from 24 to 30 August.

On 01 September floods struck Lamandau Regency and again in Seruyan Regency. Flood waters in Lamandau were over 1.2 metres deep, damaging 162 houses and displacing 87 people. Around 550 residents were affected. As many as 7,145 people across several districts of Seruyan regency were affected and 231 homes damaged.

From 03 September flooding also affected 3,845 people in Murung Raya Regency in Central Kalimantan where the Barito river broke its banks. Around 770 houses and several other buildings including health facilities were damaged. The following day flooding in Barito Utara Regency damaged 1,448 houses, 2 schools, 2 bridges and several other buildings. A total of 7,240 people were affected.

On 02 September flooding was reported in Samarinda City in East Kalimantan Province, affecting 3,656 people, and Melawi Regency in West Kalimantan Province where 45 homes were damaged and around 500 people affected.