Indonesia Highlights: Floods Hit 8 Villages in Indonesia’s North Kalimantan for Weeks | China’s Cement Company Fined $1.6 Million by Indonesia’s Business Watchdog | Women Should Occupy 15 Percent of T

KOMPAS.com – It’s been already a difficult time for Indonesia as the country remains struggling to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Then floods hit North Kalimantan.

Over 2,700 people are affected by inundated waters for weeks. The floods that have occurred since the beginning of the year were caused by the change in the transition cycle.

In other news, Indonesia’s business watchdog has made PT Conch South Kalimantan Cement (CONCH) pay 22.35 billion rupiahs ($1.6 million) in fines for causing market monopoly.

Meanwhile, the country’s State-Owned Enterprises Minister Erick Thohir wants to see the ministry to transform significantly by having more women leaders to lead the state firms in the country.

Below are excerpts from the stories in Indonesia, curated by Kompas.com editors:

1. Floods Hit 8 Villages in Indonesia’s North Kalimantan for Weeks

Floods inundated eight villages in Sembakung, Nunukan regency in North Kalimantan after floodwaters from the River Sembakung in neighboring Malaysia flew down to the low-lying areas.

The floods that have occurred since the beginning of the year were caused by the change in the transition cycle.

Head of Sembakung Sub-district, Zulkifli, said that the flood had affected 661 families comprising a total of 2,752 people.

The floods also affected 553 houses and 51 public facilities such as schools, places of worship, and office buildings, among others.

“The latest report from BPBD [the Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency] states that the water level has reached 4.40 meters, causing parts of the buildings to be submerged,” Zulkifli said on Sunday, January 17.

“The water level could still rise as it’s currently still drizzling,” he added.
So far, there have been no reports of residents fleeing their homes. Instead, they stay indoors and wait for the government to help.

Source: https://regional.kompas.com/read/2021/01/17/19240791/banjir-rendam-8-desa-di-nunukan-kalimantan-utara-2752-jiwa-terdampak.