Floods destroy thousands of hectares of West Java crops<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): More than 2,500 families in six subdistricts in
\nSouth Bandung are expected to be affected by the likely failure
\nof thousands of hectares of crops in the West Java regency that
\nhave been inundated by the overflowing Citarum river.<\/p>\n
Thousands of residents have been evacuated from 5,000
\nwaterlogged homes in the Baleendah, Ciparay, Majalaya,
\nBojongsoang, Rancaekek and Cileunyi subdistricts.<\/p>\n
\"Our crops will certainly fail as the paddy fields which have
\nbeen inundated for more than five days is already decaying,\"
\nRohman, a farmer from Bojongemas village in Majalaya subdistrict
\nwas quoted by Antara as saying.<\/p>\n
One local rescuer estimated that 935 hectares of paddy fields
\nhad been ruined in Majalaya alone.<\/p>\n
E. Danasasmita, the chief of Tegalluar village in Bojongsoang
\nsubdistrict, said 611 hectares of paddy fields in his village
\nwere ruined, along with 53 hectares of fish ponds, 1,924 homes
\nand many other public facilities.<\/p>\n
The flood has also inundated a four-kilometer stretch of road
\nconnecting Bandung, Ciparay and Majalaya.<\/p>\n
Residents have been forced to use rafts to travel around the
\narea.<\/p>\n
Officials have set up emergency shelters in village halls,
\nschools and mosques on higher areas not affected by the flood.<\/p>\n
Health officials have also had to be quick to react to reports
\nof outbreaks of diarrhea and water-borne skin disease.<\/p>\n
Large makeshift tents have been erected to function as
\ncommunal kitchens to provide meals for residents in the area.<\/p>\n
However, residents said many of them had not been able to get
\nregular meals due to limited food supplies.<\/p>\n
Relief workers have made strong appeals to the authorities to
\nchannel more supplies, such as instant noodles, salted fish and
\nother foodstuffs, to the area as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
Minister of Social Services Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana is
\nscheduled to visit the flood-hit areas today, local officials
\nsaid. (43\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/floods-destroy-thousands-of-hectares-of-west-java-crops-1447893297",
"image": ""
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