2021 South Kalimantan floods explained

2021 South Kalimantan floods
Affected:Most of South Kalimantan
Duration: - February 2021
Fatalities:15

The 2021 South Kalimantan floods were a series of floods in the South Kalimantan province of Indonesia. It was the worst flood to affect the region in the last ten years, and the first major flood in the past fifty years.[1] Most of the region affected had never experienced such a flood before.[2] There were 15 deaths while many are missing.[3] Landslides were also triggered by the floods.[4] [5] The most affected regions were Banjarmasin, Central Hulu Sungai Regency, and Tanah Laut Regency. More than 100,000 people were evacuated.[6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

Indonesian National Armed Forces had begun distributing aid to victims of the flooding.[12]

Causes

The flood is thought to have been caused by high rainfall intensity, which triggered river overflows that began on January 9, 2021.[13] However, the Director of Indonesian Forum for Environment for South Kalimantan, Dwi Cahyono, argued that the flood was caused by environmental degradation in the form of hundreds of mining holes that were not reclaimed and nearly fifty percent of the 3.7 million hectares of land were controlled by mining and oil palm companies.[14] [15]

Criticism of government response

Indonesian netizens criticized lack of coverage on national media about the floods. President Joko Widodo posted on social media that Indonesia currently struggles against two natural disasters; 2021 Sumedang landslides and 2021 West Sulawesi earthquake, but did not mention the floods. Consequently, hashtag "#KalselJugaIndonesia" (South Kalimantan is also Indonesia) trended on Twitter as protest of government's lack of coverage.[16] [17]

Environment activists and opposition argued that floods happening in South Kalimantan were the result of uncontrolled and unsustainable investments resulting destruction of the nature, and criticized the provincial government that blamed the floods solely on weather.[18] [19] [20] Later president post a video on the disaster that he already received direct report from South Kalimantan governor, Sahbirin Noor and urged all government personnel to provide aids necessary for the victims especially inflatable boat.[21] Later, president visited the affected region directly on 18 January together with regent of Banjar Regency.

See also

References

  1. Web site: Asmara. Chandra Gian. Jokowi: Ini Kali Pertama dalam 50 Tahun Kalsel Banjir Besar. 2021-01-18. news. id-ID.
  2. Web site: Dampak Banjir Kalsel 2021: Jalan Putus, Ribuan Rumah Terendam. 2021-01-16. tirto.id. id.
  3. Web site: Davies . Richard . Indonesia – Deadly Floods and Landslides in South Kalimantan and North Sulawesi . floodlist.com . 9 April 2023.
  4. Web site: Media. Kompas Cyber. Banjir di Kalsel Juga Sebabkan Longsor, Satu Orang Tertimbun. 2021-01-16. KOMPAS.com. id.
  5. Web site: Banjir di HST Kalsel Makan Korban, Total Ada Tujuh Warga yang Meninggal. 2021-01-16. Banjarmasin Post. id-ID.
  6. Web site: Dirgantara. Adhyasta. Update Banjir di Kalimantan Selatan: 2.600 Warga Mengungsi. 2021-01-16. detiknews. id-ID.
  7. Web site: Indonesia. C. N. N.. Banjir di Banjarmasin Kalsel Meluas, Warga Mulai Mengungsi. 2021-01-16. nasional. id-ID.
  8. Web site: Indonesia. C. N. N.. Warga Terdampak Banjir Kalsel Minta Bantuan Hingga ke Desa. 2021-01-16. nasional. id-ID.
  9. Web site: Indonesia, Flooding in Banjarbaru City, South Kalimantan (01:10 Jan 14 2021). ReliefWeb. 14 January 2021.
  10. Web site: Lebih dari Dua Puluh Ribu Jiwa Terdampak Banjir. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210115134840/https://bnpb.go.id/berita/lebih-dari-dua-puluh-ribu-jiwa-terdampak-banjir-di-kalimantan-selatan . 15 January 2021 .
  11. Web site: Indonesia. C. N. N.. Banjir Kalimantan Selatan: 5 Warga Tewas, 112 Ribu Mengungsi. 2021-01-18. nasional. id-ID.
  12. Web site: antaranews.com. TNI distributes Presidential aid to S Kalimantan flood victims. 2021-01-16. Antara News.
  13. News: Idham . Addi M . 14 January 2021 . Info Banjir Kalsel Terbaru 2021: Penyebab & Daftar Daerah Terendam . . 15 January 2021.
  14. News: Saptoyo . Rosy Dewi Arianti . Hardiyanto . Sari . 15 January 2021 . Banjir Kalsel, Meluasnya Lahan Sawit, dan Masifnya Pertambangan... . . 15 January 2021.
  15. News: 16 January 2021. Banjir Kalsel, Walhi Ingatkan soal Kerusakan Lingkungan . . 16 January 2021.
  16. Web site: Presiden Jokowi Diprotes Netizen, Tagar Kalsel Juga Indonesia Langsung Membahana di Twitter. 2021-01-16. Banjarmasin Post. id-ID.
  17. Web site: Banjir di Kalsel: Warganet Minta Tolong Lewat Tagar #KalselJugaIndonesia, Tanggap Darurat Ditetapkan. 2021-01-16. Tribunnews.com. id-ID.
  18. Web site: Media. Kompas Cyber. Banjir Kalsel, Meluasnya Lahan Sawit, dan Masifnya Pertambangan... Halaman all. 2021-01-16. KOMPAS.com. id.
  19. Web site: 2021-01-15. WALHI: Banjir Kalsel Bukan Salah Hujan, Tapi Akibat Tambang dan Kebun Sawit. 2021-01-16. suara.com. id.
  20. Web site: Indonesia. C. N. N.. Banjir Kalsel, Walhi Ingatkan soal Kerusakan Lingkungan. 2021-01-16. nasional. id-ID.
  21. Web site: [VIDEO] Keterangan Presiden soal Bencana Banjir di Kalimantan Selatan]. 2021-01-16. Presiden RI. id-ID.