18,000 moved as flood hits Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: More than 18,000 people have been evacuated to safer ground since floods hit the capital following several days of incessant rains.

The residents are being accommodated in mosques, schools and other buildings, Antara reported yesterday.

Chief of the local social services office, T. Anwar Azuardi, said the floods hit four subdistricts in the city, which has a population of 200,000 people.

Anwar said the worst hit was the Baiturrahman subdistrict, where water is as deep as one meter. There have been no reports of casualties, he added.

The local government has sent food, clothing and supplies of medicine to the stricken areas, he said. (pan)