The balimau bath process was stopped because the flood came suddenly

News24xx.com - Tradition of hereditary done in welcoming the Ramadan. For some societies, it is mentioned to rid itself of all the sins that were committed a year ago.

In the area of ??South Solok, West Sumatra Province, this tradition is called the 'Balimau' bath, which is a shared bath in the river. Precisely at Batang Liki River, Sangir, South Solok which starts at noon in the afternoon, precisely the preparation start at 3 pm until the end at 6 o'clock.

However, the balimau bath event was forced to stop, this is because at about 3 pm on Wednesday, May 16th 2018, the flood came from upstream, and BPBD of south Solok called for balimau bath tradition to be stopped along the Batang Liki river.

Head of Emergency and Logistics Division of BPBD Solsel, Herwin, said that there is heavy rain in Blangir upstream in the West of Mount Kerinci, and rapid river water discharge rose suddenly.

"As a result of this flood, there was a victim who washed away, the name is Anto Laser, 45 year-old, Jorong Lekok residents, Nagari Lubuk Gadang Selatan, Sangir, and there are four others trapped in the middle of the river flow, but has been successfully evacuated" said Herwin .

The search for the victim still continues until the entry of prayer maghrib at 18:15 pm local time. And the evacuation team also came from BPBD Padang

"Until the entry time of sunset, the water discharge has started to recede but still swift and can not swim. SAR team is likely until midnight" he said.

Secretary of Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of South Solok, Sumatra, Sumardianto, in Padang Aro, said, "We, together with the police and the TNI are still searching for victims along the Batang Sangir river, we have provided three units of rubber boats for search unit"

Rubber boats are currently put on the edge of the river Batang Sangir, Nagari Lubuk Gadang Selatan, Sangir District, because the water current was still fast and turbid makes so difficult for officers.

Meanwhile, Head of South Solok Police Sub-division, Benu Alam said it had stopped the procession of "balimau bath" along the Batang Sangir River and other connected streams.

"We have told the people to Abai Sangir Batang Hari Subdistrict through Batang Sangir to stop the balimau procession because there is a flood from Batang Belangir" he said.

 

 

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