SOUTH SULAWESI HIT BY WORST FLOODING IN LAST DECADE by Fardah

Jakarta, Jan 26, 2019 (Antara)- The Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned of possible flooding as the country is currently in the peak rainy season, but the devastation caused by widespread flooding and landslides hitting South Sulawesi has shocked the nation.

             Flash floods believed to be the worst in the last decade affected 106 villages in 61 sub-districts in 13 districts and cities in South Sulawesi Province. The 13 districts and cities were Jeneponto, Maros, Gowa, Makassar, Soppeng, Wajo, Barru, Pangkep, Sidrap, Bantaeng, Takalar, Selayar and Sinjai.

            So far, 59 were dead, 25 missing, 47 injured and 6.596 displaced due to flooding and landslides in the province. Besides, the natural disasters damaged 10 bridges, 79 homes, two traditional markets, 12 places of worship, 22 school buildings, and submerged 4,857 homes, as well as 11,876 hectares of rice fields.

            Jihadul Arifin, one of the Makassar flood victims, recalled how the flash flood took him and the other residents of Antang residential area in Manggala Sub-district by surprise as flood waters reaching a height of 1.5 meters suddenly hit the housing complex.

             "This flood is different from floods in the previous years. The flood waters were suddenly very high," Jihadul Arifin, an inhabitant of Antang housing complex, said on January 23, 2019.

            The water current was very strong and it reached the height of an adult's chest, he added.  
  The flash flood came from Gowa District, which shares a border with Manggala Sub-district, after the Bili-Bili dam was opened, he noted.

             He said him and other flood victims did not have time to save their belongings because the flash flood came without any warning on January 22 at around 4 p.m. local time.

            "Other residents and I are now taking refuge at a mosque. We need food, clothes and blankets," he said.

TAKABONERATE, HIDDEN MARINE PARADISE IN S SULAWESI by Fardah

Jakarta, Nov 2, 2017 (Antara) - Besides Raja Ampat, which has been known worldwide as a hidden marine paradise on Earth, there is another hidden marine paradise, which is less known, notably the Takabonerate, which is located in Selayar District, South Sulawesi Province.

         Stretching south of the main island of Sulawesi into the Flores Sea, the Takabonerate National Park is a predominantly rich marine park and is also habitat to several bird species.

         Takabonerate is the third-largest atoll region in the world after Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands and Suvadiva in the Maldives.

      Apart from atolls, this national park comprises of 21 islands and has 242 species of corals, 526 species of colorful and strange reef fish, as well as 112 species of macro algae.

        The Island of Selayar is a gateway to this extensive 530,765-hectare-national park, of which 220 thousand hectares form an expanse of atolls and lagoons.

        The administration of Selayar Islands had organized the Wonderful Takabonerate Festival, or the Ninth edition of the Takabonerate Island Expedition (TIE), themed "Showcasing the Marine Potentials of Selayar towards a Golden Marine Tourist Destination 2019," from Oct 23 to 27, 2017. 
   Benteng and Takabonerate diving spots are the two locations where the festival was held.

        Among events held in Benteng were a canoe race, a decorated pedicab parade, a duck-catching swimming race, and traditional art and cultural performances, particularly those of the Bajo sea nomad tribe.