Storm sweeps three provinces<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Surabaya\/Semarang\/Mataram<\/p>\n
Severe storms set off by Australia's Gusty Storm hit many parts
\nof Java and the province of West Nusa Tenggara on Tuesday and
\nWednesday, claiming at least two lives, damaging hundreds of
\nhouses and disrupting land and water transportation.<\/p>\n
The worst cases occurred in the province of East Java, where
\nat least one toddler was killed as of Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n
The storm also damaged 16 bridges, flooded dozens of castles
\nand hundreds of homes, and swept away 10 houses after heavy rains
\nand strong winds hit many parts of the province, including
\nMojokerto, Pasuruan, Probolinggo, Malang, Batu and Jember
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
The toddler, 2-year-old Rizki, was a resident of Godang
\ndistrict in Mojokerto. Rizki was swept away by the flood and his
\nbody has not yet been recovered.<\/p>\n
The storms and ensuing floodwaters also cut major roads
\nconnecting Jombang and Mojokerto, as well as several other
\nregencies.<\/p>\n
Local residents have been forced to seek refuge in safer
\nareas, and some 150 residents from Suko district, Mojokerto, have
\ncamped out at the regental administration's offices.<\/p>\n
Suko is one of eight East Java districts that were hit hard by
\nfloods.<\/p>\n
Irfan, a Suko resident and refugee, said the flood initially
\nspread to his home on Tuesday night. "The water spread quickly.
\nMy house was flooded in water one meter deep, so my family had to
\nstay awake all night atop several high tables," he said.<\/p>\n
As of Wednesday, flooding had subsided in some areas, but dark
\nclouds and heavy rains remained in other areas, prompting local
\nresidents to stay alert against further flooding.<\/p>\n
Local residents in Gugut subdistrict, Jember, maintained their
\nvigilance: "If heavy rains again pound our village, Dinoyo River
\nwill overflow and it will flood again," a resident was quoted by
\nAntara as saying.<\/p>\n
In the East Java capital of Surabaya, East Java Governor Imam
\nUtomo promised that government aid would be distributed soon to
\nthose areas affected by the floods.<\/p>\n
"We have asked regental governments to provide data on the
\nvictims of the disaster, so we can prepare adequate food and
\nmedication.<\/p>\n
"We will also repair the damaged bridges immediately, so
\ntraffic in the province can return to normal soon," he said.<\/p>\n
In Central Java, a storm along the northern coastal areas of
\nthe province has caused flooding in Kendal and Grobogan
\nregencies, where hundreds of houses were underwater.<\/p>\n
The floods cut traffic between the Central Java capital of
\nSemarang and neighboring Grobogan regency. Heavy rains also
\ncaused a landslide in Gubug district, Grobogan, cutting the
\nrailway route between Semarang and East Java capital Surabaya.<\/p>\n
Driver Sutrisno, 30, was killed instantly when a large tree
\nfell onto his car on Jl. Wahidin in downtown Semarang.<\/p>\n
The Semarang Meteorology and Geophysics Office said the storm
\nwas caused by Gusty Storm, which moved up from Australia and
\nacross eastern Indonesia.<\/p>\n
"The wind, at speeds of 40 to 75 kilometers per hour, always
\nrises suddenly, so people must be on guard," said spokesman
\nKomaruddin.<\/p>\n
In West Nusa Tenggara province, Gusty Storm halted maritime
\ntraffic between Lembar Seaport, Lombok Island, and Padang Bay
\nSeaport, Bali, for 12 hours. At least eight ships were delayed
\nand hundreds of passengers were stranded by the storm.<\/p>\n
Sutrisno, head of the local Meteorology and Geophysics Office
\nin Selaparang, predicted that the storms across the eastern part
\nof the archipelago would continue for another five to 10 days.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/storm-sweeps-three-provinces-1447893297",
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