Tanjung Pandan, Bangka Belitun (ANTARA) - The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Belitung, Bangka Belitung Islands Province, distributed 1.2 tons of rice assistance to Gresik Island residents affected by a whirlwind that hit the island on Sunday (September 29).
"Today, we visited Gresik Island to distribute 1.2 tons of rice assistance to residents who became victims of a whirlwind," Acting Head of Belitung BPBD Agus Supriadi said here on Sunday.
He noted that the rice assistance, which is sourced from the government rice reserves, was transported by using fishing boats from Pegantungan Port to Gresik Island, with approximately 2.5 hours of travel time.
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According to him, the rice assistance is provided to meet the needs of the residents for the next 20 days. He affirmed that the Belitung BPBD had deployed a team to help clean the ruins of trees that fell due to the whirlwind that caused light to severe damage to residents' houses.
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Supriadi appealed to the community to stay alert about hydrometeorological disasters amid the current transition from the dry season to the rainy season.
"The change in season can potentially cause natural disasters such as strong winds, floods, and high tide. Thus, we hope the community will be vigilant," he remarked.
