Flash flood kills two, injures nine<\/p>\n
Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post\/Medan<\/p>\n
Two people perished and nine others were injured when flash
\nfloods on Wednesday night hit two villages in Central Tapanuli
\nregency, some 400 kilometers southwest of Medan, the capital of
\nNorth Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The disaster, which was caused by torrential rains, also
\ndestroyed hundreds of residents' homes and dozens of hectares of
\nrice paddy in the villages of Utte Boang and Gabungan Hasang
\nBarus in Sosor Gadong districts.<\/p>\n
As many as 125 residents of the 1,250 inhabitants of Utte
\nBoang were reported to be still taking refuge in emergency tents,
\nas their homes had been ravaged by the floods.<\/p>\n
Sosor Gadong district chief Hotlan Simanulang on Friday said
\nthat the refugees were so far still in good condition and a
\nquantity of relief aid had been distributed including rice,
\ninstant noodles, medicine, bottled water and clothing.<\/p>\n
He said that hundreds of residents, together with personnel
\nfrom the military and Central Tapanuli administration office,
\nwere now working hard to clear rocks and mud covering roads and
\nresidents' houses.<\/p>\n
Hotlan added that the floods, followed by mudslides, had
\ntotally cut several roads in Sosor Gadong district, including a
\ntwo kilometer section of the provincial highway that was covered
\nin rocks and earth, totally severing traffic between Barus
\ndistrict and Sibolga.<\/p>\n
\"We are now trying to reopen the roads, as this is crucial to
\nfacilitate relief aid. Besides that, we are constantly helping
\nflood victims, especially those who are still staying in refugee
\ntents,\" Hotlan told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Hotlan said that the dead victims were listed as Lisdaria
\nGalingging, 45, and her daughter, Butet Simatupang, 11.<\/p>\n
The nine injured victims still being treated at the local
\nhospital are, Samsir Simatupang, Naula Situmorang, Adikman
\nLimbong, Aturan Limbong, Lina Limbong, Thomas Limbong, Peris and
\nTibur, all from Utte Boang, the hardest hit village.<\/p>\n
According to a number of eyewitnesses, the disaster struck at
\nabout 8:00 p.m. local time, following three hours of torrential
\nrain.<\/p>\n
One of the survivors, Teris Limbong, said that heavy downpours
\nhad led a number of villages to be submerged in water and rocks
\ncoming from the direction of the mountain started to fall on
\nresidents' houses. They then fled to safety.<\/p>\n
Teris said that Lisdaria Galingging was at that time able to
\nsave her two children, but she went back to her house to salvage
\nher belongings while carrying her daughter, Butet.<\/p>\n
However, while she was busy recovering her belongings, a flash
\nflood swept down from the mountain and destroyed the houses.<\/p>\n
\"Residents were panicked and terrified that night because the
\nflood, followed by mudslides, came down so suddenly from the
\nmountain. It was short but terrifying. We tried to flee to a
\nsafer place,\" said Teris, adding that residents were busy
\nsearching for their relatives after the flood subsided.<\/p>\n
Teris said that the bodies of Lisdarita and her daughter were
\nfound an hour after the tragedy in a rice field.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/flash-flood-kills-two-injures-nine-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}