Factories production halts during flood

TANGERANG: More than 100 factories in Tangerang were forced to stop production due to the floods which hit the area last week.

"We have reports from 117 flooded factories which have suffered many losses ... those factories had to temporarily stop production," Rina Hernaningsih, a Tangerang municipal trade and industry agency official said on Wednesday.

She predicted that the figure would likely increase, since many factories in some districts have yet to report their losses.

"For now, workers and staff are busy cleaning up the mud and garbage from the floodwaters," said Linda, an employee at glass manufacturer PT Cipta Lestari, in Periuk district.

She said that the floodwaters, which began to cover the factory last Friday, have already reached the one-meter mark, forcing the company to give workers the day off until Tuesday.

Employees at textile factory PT Diamindo Megah in Cibodas district, Tuti, said that their company's management has yet to calculate its losses.

The flood, which began last Wednesday, had broken down the machines at the factory by the time it reached 75-centimeters high.

Two hundred employees were able to return to work by Wednesday, but were still cleaning up. -- JP