Flash floods hit Tolitoli

TOLITOLI, Central Sulawesi: Flash floods triggered by several days of incessant rain inundated a transmigration site in Buol Tolitoli district over the weekend forcing the evacuation of 967 people.

The 250 evacuated families were still waiting for the floods to subside before returning to their homes, which were standing in 50 centimeters of water yesterday morning.

At the height of the flood their homes were inundated by water up to 1.5 metres deep, the district administration spokesman, Lukman Tahadja, said yesterday.

The floods also devastated at least 250 hectares of paddy fields and hundreds of hectares of secondary crops at the cost of millions of rupiah.

The floods also swept away at least 20 houses close to the Mahardja river.

Antara reported that Buol Tolitoli district chief Gumyadi inspected the flood-stricken area on Sunday and distributed two tons of rice and 1,000 packs of instant noodles to the flood victims.