Child perishes in Mataram flood

MATARAN, West Nusa Tenggara: At least one person has died after flood waters swept through 300 houses in Banjar village, Ampenan, in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) on Thursday.

Ardiandi, 4, died after his foot slipped into a canal as he was heading for the Ampenan beach to play a game; he immediately disappeared beneath the waters.

The flood has submerged the village since last week, and there have been no efforts by Mataram's municipal administration to cope with the problem.

Nur Nasution, a local official, said his office has only now found out about the flood, and has promised to take a necessary action.

Flooding in Banjar, he noted, takes place every year. --Antara