Forest Destruction Leads to Flooding in Merauke
Floodwaters were seen entering a resident's home in Merauke Regency, South Papua Province, on Saturday, April 5, 2025.
Flooding has affected Merauke since Friday night, April 4, 2025. As of Saturday, April 5, 2025, the waters have yet to recede. In fact, the water level continues to rise, reaching into residents' homes.
As a result, residents had to secure their belongings, especially electronic equipment, to prevent damage from the flood. The disaster has also disrupted daily activities, with some residents forced to evacuate.
The flooding in Merauke is suspected to be caused by environmental damage. Large areas of forest have been destroyed and converted into land for other uses. Additionally, the government’s ongoing project to clear 2 million hectares of land has had a significant environmental impact. The destruction of forests and ecosystems has made Merauke increasingly vulnerable to flooding during the rainy season.
The government is urged to halt all projects that contribute to forest and environmental destruction in Merauke. If these projects continue, even more severe flooding could devastate the region in the future.
Hutan Rusak, Merauke Kebanjiran
Tampak air banjir masuk ke rumah salah satu warga di Kabupaten Merauke, Provinsi Papua Selatan pada Sabtu, 5 April 2025.
Banjir melanda Merauke sejak Jumat malam, 4 April 2025. Hingga Sabtu, 5 April 2025 banjir tidak kunjung surut. Bahkan ketinggian permukaan air terus meningkat hingga masuk ke dalam rumah warga.
Akibatnya, warga harus menyelamatkan barang-barang mereka, terutama peralatan elektronik, supaya tidak rusak karena banjir. Banjir juga menyebabkan aktivitas warga terganggu. Sebagian warga bahkan terpaksa mengungsi.
Banjir di Merauke diduga terjadi akibat kerusakan lingkungan di Merauke. Saat ini banyak hutan rusak dan beralih fungsi menjadi lahan. Pemerintah juga sedang melakukan pembukaan lahan 2 juta hektare yang berdampak besar pada lingkungan. Rusaknya hutan dan lingkungan membuat Merauke rentan dilanda banjir saat musim hujan.
Pemerintah diharapkan menghentikan semua proyek yang bisa merusak hutan dan lingkungan di Merauke. Sebab, jika tidak segera dihentikan, bencana banjir yang lebih besar akan melanda Merauke.
