Flood inundates paddy fields

CILACAP, Central Java: Three days of incessant rain resulted in flooding in four subdistricts here on Friday, inundating thousands of hectares of newly planted paddy fields.

The subdistricts covered in 50 cm of water were Adikala, Kroya, Kawungenten and Sidareja.

Priyono, a staff member at the Kroya subdistrict office, said the worst-hit area was Sikampuh village. The village almost always flooded during the rainy season, he said.

In two other villages, Adireja Wetan and Doplang, many roads were half a meter under water.

In Kawunganten and Sidareja water 40 cm deep seeped into houses.

Cilacap regency administration spokesman, Suprihono, said floods in the area were a routine occurrence every rainy season that normally lasts from October through April.

"But, this year we are all bracing for La Nia," he said, referring to the wet weather phenomenon that has been predicted to worsen this year's rain season.

Sidareja and Kawunganten could become the worst-hit areas, according to Suprihono.

The Central Java Meteorology and Geophysics Agency has warned that Cilacap, Purbalingga and Banjarnegara, Pekalongan, Kedu, Semarang, Surakarta and Pati would probably suffer especially badly if La Nia struck with a vengeance. (45)