Storms, floods dampen Idul Fitri celebration<\/p>\n
Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Storms and floods hampered Idul Fitri celebrations across the
\ncountry, and left one person dead and hundreds of homes damaged.<\/p>\n
A heavy storm hit Temanggung regency in Central Java on
\nTuesday, the first day of Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
The storm tore the roofs off several homes and uprooted trees
\nin the area.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were reported in the incident, which occurred in
\nthe subdistricts of Drono and Boto Putih.<\/p>\n
In Malang regency, East Java, a flood hit Sumbermanjing Wetan
\ndistrict on Sunday, killing one person and forcing thousands of
\nothers to seek refuge on higher ground.<\/p>\n
Kantri, 65, a resident of Sitiardjo village in the district,
\ndied when floodwaters swept through his house.<\/p>\n
About 3,000 others had to be evacuated from their homes
\nbecause of the flood.<\/p>\n
The flooding, which hit just days before the Idul Fitri
\ncelebrations, was triggered by heavy rain in the area since
\nThursday of last week.<\/p>\n
"The flood destroyed 150 houses, 20 hectares of farmland and
\npublic infrastructure such as schools. Material losses amount to
\nRp 22.8 billion," said Haryono, the district's secretary, as
\nquoted by Antara on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Flooding also hit the neighboring district of Tirtoyudo,
\ndestroying 70 hectares of farmland and forcing 96 local residents
\nto be evacuated.<\/p>\n
Deforestation is being blamed for the flooding.<\/p>\n
In order to prevent future floods, local councillor Asminin
\nSanusi promised that the Malang legislative council would
\nexpedite the passing of a bylaw to protect the forests in the
\nregency.<\/p>\n
Sitiardjo village is known to be prone to flooding. It
\nexperienced a large flood in 1985, but no fatalities were
\nreported.<\/p>\n
East Java Governor Imam Oetomo visited Sitiardjo on Wednesday,
\nordering the local government to rebuild public facilities in the
\narea.<\/p>\n
During his visit, the governor handed over 10 tons of rice and
\nRp 100 million ((US$11,764) for the victims of the natural
\ndisaster.<\/p>\n
The governor called on people living in the Sitiardjo
\nsubdistrict to voluntarily relocate, as the area, located near
\nthe Rowotantri River, is prone to natural disasters.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, a flood on Monday night damaged 60 houses in the
\ncity of West Baturaja, the capital of the Ogan Komering Ulu
\nregency in South Sumatra.<\/p>\n
The natural disaster forced residents in the city to cancel
\nIdul Fitri celebrations, and instead evacuate their belongings
\nfrom their inundated houses using makeshift rafts.<\/p>\n
No fatalities were reported in the incident.<\/p>\n
Separately, a storm damaged 20 houses and thousands of
\nhectares of farmland in the East Nusa Tenggara regencies of
\nCentral Timor and North-Central Timor on Monday.<\/p>\n
The subdistricts of Seo and Loli were badly affected by the
\nstorm, which uprooted trees and tore the roofs off houses in the
\ntwo areas.<\/p>\n
"A heavy storm suddenly hit the area and uprooted trees and
\ncrops in our area," said Marten Nuban, a resident of Loli
\nvillage.<\/p>\n
The storm lasted just minutes, but the impact was devastating,
\nsaid Immanuel Nokas, a resident of Seo subdistrict.<\/p>\n
He said the storm was the first of its kind in his village.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/storms-floods-dampen-idul-fitri-celebration-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }