Flood cuts off highways

Flood cuts off highways

PEKANBARU, Riau: A major flood cut off the highways connecting
Java, Riau and West Sumatra on Thursday, a press report said
yesterday.

The flood, triggered by incessant rains, inundated a vast area
in Riau and West Sumatra. It has so far claimed at least six
lives.

Chairman of the Riau agency for highway and land
transportation, Yurnalis Saiby, told Antara that land
transportation between Pekanbaru and Padang was cut off in
Kampar, while the Riau to Jakarta road was cut in Indragiri Hulu.

"The Pekanbaru to West Sumatra highway is flooded with between
one and two meters of water," Yurnalis said.

He said vehicles heading for Jakarta must take an alternative
route through the neighboring province of Jambi.(pan)