S. Sulawesi floods destroy 800 houses<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Reports of flooding around the country continued
\nto pour in on Friday, with damage expected to run into billions
\nof rupiah.<\/p>\n
At least 800 houses have been inundated since Wednesday and
\nthousands of hectares of crops and shrimp ponds destroyed by
\nflooding in the Polmas regency of South Sulawesi.<\/p>\n
The flooding is thought to have caused damage worth at least
\nRp 10 billion.<\/p>\n
Local officials said a number of villages along the Mandar
\nriver in Tatallu district had been hit by floods regularly in
\nrecent years.<\/p>\n
In 1987, floods killed at least 50 residents of Kalumalang
\nand Mombi and destroyed hundreds of houses.<\/p>\n
One man died on Wednesday when a bridge on the Mappili river
\ncollapsed. The victim was identified as Lahang.<\/p>\n
A relief team led by local officials has been dispatched to
\nthe area to provide food aid and medical supplies to hundreds of
\npeople taking refuge in makeshift shelters.<\/p>\n
Traffic between the South Sulawesi capital of Ujungpandang and
\nPolmas and Mamuju has now returned to normal.<\/p>\n
However, houses and shops in Wonomulyo district were still in
\nwater up to 50 centimeters deep on Friday.<\/p>\n
An official from the local public works department, Dimin,
\nsaid that rubble left in irrigation channels after the
\nconstruction of the Seka-Seka dam had prevented the flood waters
\nfrom receding.<\/p>\n
Local officials said they had evacuated residents living
\nadjacent to the Mandar and Mappili rivers.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile in Cilacap, Central Java, at least 450 houses in
\nCipari district were inundated after four days of heavy rain.<\/p>\n
Locals said the Cikawung river overflowed on Thursday,
\nflooding hundreds of houses and forcing hundreds of people to
\nmove to higher ground.<\/p>\n
\"A number of people have taken refuge in the village hall,\"
\nRaskat from the Cilacap social services office said.<\/p>\n
Officials said that at least 700 hectares of rice fields had
\nbeen inundated for the past two days.<\/p>\n
Three fishermen from Donan village were reported missing after
\ntheir boat capsized on the river. The missing men were identified
\nas Dulah, 35, Sukir, 40, and Slamet, 45.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Antara reported on Friday that floods in Lhoksukon,
\nNorth Aceh, forced thousands of people to flee their homes.<\/p>\n
District chief Amiruddin was quoted as saying that around
\n1,300 families had been evacuated.<\/p>\n
He said the Keureuto river overflowed after several days of
\nheavy rain. Local officials have set up makeshift shelters for
\nthe residents. No casualties were reported, he added. (30\/45\/byg)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/s-sulawesi-floods-destroy-800-houses-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}