PORTALJABAR, DISTRICT. SUMEDANG - Acting Governor of West Java Bey Machmudin inspected the flood location in Leuwiawi Hamlet, Ujungjaya Village/District, Sumedang Regency, Tuesday (13/2/2024).

Previously, on Sunday (11/2/2024) afternoon floods accompanied by mud hit two villages, namely Cipelang and Ujungjaya Villages due to the Cipelang River embankment breaking.

It was recorded that 220 residential units were flooded with the number of victims affected by around 220 families or 700 people.

Bey arrived in Ujungjaya Village accompanied by Acting Regent of Sumedang Herman Suryatman and immediately saw the condition of the residents in the refugee tents.

Bey then handed over logistical assistance for the needs of affected residents and disaster funds which were handed over to the Acting Regent.

"We saw what the impact of the flood was like and what is important is the solution in the future. This is a recurring flood, but yesterday the rainfall was high and the embankment broke so (the flood) reached 3 meters," said Bey Machmudin.

He revealed that there are two solutions for dealing with floods in the area. First, wait for the Cariang Dam, but it will only be completed in 2027.

"First, whether to wait until the construction of the Cariang Dam is complete, that is also a solution, but it will be completed in 2027," said Bey

The second solution is to relocate residents. Currently, the Provincial Government is taking into account its accountability aspect because quite a few residents' houses have to be relocated.

Bey continued, whatever solution is taken, the most important thing is the safety and health of the residents.

"For us, the most important thing is public safety and health, because if there are floods every year it won't be healthy either," he said.

Proposed Mobile TPS

Floods in two villages also affected a number of polling stations (TPS). For tomorrow's voting, one of the affected polling stations has been moved to SD Negeri Kramatjaya.

Bey said that the TPS at SD Negeri Kramatjaya was very suitable for holding voting. However, according to Bey, not all residents affected by the flood wanted to come to the polling station.

"TPS at this elementary school is very suitable, but will the people who are grieving because of the flood want to come here," he said.

To make things easier for residents affected by the flood, his party plans to make mobile or pick-up polling stations. This means that TPS officers will come to the homes of residents affected by the flood.

"Earlier, the Acting Regent of Sumedang was looking for a solution to see if it would be possible to create a mobile TPS, so a TPS that approaches voters, but later this will be agreed upon by the KPPS, KPU, Bawaslu and other related agencies," explained Bey.

Tonight the Provincial Government will register data on residents who cannot come to the polling station. Bey hopes that even though they are affected by the flood, residents will still voice their right to vote because it will determine the fate of the nation.

"Tonight we will record who the residents are who cannot come to the polling stations so that the voter participation rate here remains high. Five years ago it was 83 percent, we hope that this year the percentage will be the same or increase. So I apologize even though the people are mourning because of the flood disaster, "But we urge you to continue voting because this will determine the future of the nation," hoped Bey.