Natural disasters in my country

Hi Steemians, how are you? I hope you're healthy, happy, and always protected by God wherever you are. I've been inactive on this platform for over a week because my current situation simply doesn't allow it. A week ago, several cities in my country, especially those on the island of Sumatra, such as Aceh, Medan and its surroundings, and Padang and its surroundings, experienced floods, landslides, and earthquakes.

My current location is in Aceh, a region comprised of five cities and 18 districts. Aceh consists of 23 regions, each led by a governor at the provincial level, and each city is led by a mayor or regent. Nearly every city and district in Aceh has experienced flooding, landslides, and earthquakes in some areas. In my own city, we initially experienced continuous, non-stop rain for almost a week at the end of November.

We also experienced a small, but noticeable earthquake at night. Due to this continuous rain, the water level has increased, sea levels and rivers have risen. Flooding has occurred everywhere, ditches have overflowed, and many roads and homes have been inundated by the incessant rain. Houses along riverbanks have been swept away by the rising tide.

Debris from houses and vehicles swept away by floodwaters

Houses that collapsed and were destroyed by floods

Sand truck sinks on the road

The water level reached the roof of the house

The condition of my residence at that time was also filled with flood. At that time my house was flooded. All the rooms in my house were inundated by rainwater that did not stop for 4 consecutive days. The rainwater on the road to my house was almost 1 meter high, on the terrace of my house was half a meter high and inside my house the water was 10 cm high.

At that time my family took refuge in the upstairs room, coincidentally my house was 2 stories. We were worried that the water would rise further because the rain had not stopped for several days. My Princess and I brought the necessary items to the upstairs room. I then carried my old and weak mother upstairs slowly. I prepared everything for my mother. I carried important items and my mother's needs upstairs.

For 4 days the rain did not stop, our house was flooded, the electricity was out for 4 days and 4 nights. We could not charge our cellphones, the lights could not be turned on, the flashlight could not be charged, we could not cook with a rice cooker, even the water could not be turned on, the house and its surroundings were pitch black at night. In the midst of flooding and power outages, no shops were open because the flood waters were very high from day to day.

We stayed at home, waiting and hoping the rain would stop. Schools were temporarily closed, as were several offices and shops. Luckily, I had plenty of food supplies at home because I had just done my monthly shopping the day before the flood. Finally, on the fifth day, there was a glimmer of hope when the rain finally stopped and the electricity came back on.

However, through social media, it turned out that in other parts of Aceh besides my city, the flooding was even worse in other places. For example, in North Aceh and Bireuen, many roads were destroyed, many houses were submerged and carried away by floodwaters from overflowing rivers, many bridges were broken by the floods. In Central Aceh, there were also many landslides, damaged and destroyed roads, and road access was cut off.

Rainwater and overflowing lakes flooded residential areas. Not only were property lost, swept away by the current and buried in mud, but according to reports from the search and rescue team, some residents even died from drowning and did not have time to save themselves. In the midst of the floods and landslides, we were also surprised by several small earthquakes.

Landslides due to continuous rain

Severely damaged intercity road

Mud that inundated residential areas

Mud also flooded the road

The toll road was flooded like an ocean

Many residents fled to higher ground. Some were also trapped in their homes so that several SAR teams evacuated them from their homes, some even survived on coconut trees. They were all rescued to refugee camps. They no longer thought about their belongings, all they thought about was their safety.

After the floods, landslides and earthquakes that hit our country. So many road accesses were cut off causing staple foods to become scarce, and prices soared. Likewise with fuel oil, gasoline and diesel. In this situation the government immediately responded to the situation of its people who needed help, donations and other things that were deemed necessary.

I feel very grateful for my current condition, while normal life returned after this disaster, in other areas it has not fully recovered due to more severe damage where the water level was higher, there were landslides, there were even villages that were lost where there were no more houses that had become rivers and there were also many victims who drowned and buried by landslides.

Several pictures of residents being evacuated to refugee camps

I hope that everything can recover and the malls can return to how they were before and this disaster can be overcome quickly and well.

Regard
@dederanggayoni