Flood spreads in districts in Medan municipality

Flood spreads in districts in Medan municipality

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan, North Sumatra

Flooding hit three districts in the North Sumatra capital of
Medan on Saturday, forcing thousands of families to temporarily
abandon their homes. No fatalities were reported.

The flooding hit at 1 a.m on Saturday after the Deli River
burst its banks. Floodwaters were up to three meters deep.

The districts were Medan Maimoon, Medan Labuhan and Medan
Sunggal.

The damage was mitigated as the flooding, an annual
occurrence, had been anticipated due to incessant rain on Friday.
Residents patrolled the banks of the river during the night and
gave the alarm when the river overflowed its banks.

Suparman, from Sei Mati subdistrict in Medan Maimoon, said
they were flooded almost every year.

"Therefore, we have learned from experience and have been able
to identify ways to save our families and belongings from the
floods."

Medan municipal administration spokesman Arlan Nasution said
the flooding was worst in Medan Maimoon. All schools in the
district were closed Saturday, he said.

Medan Maimoon district head Nasib said that 700 residents had
to abandon their homes during the flooding.

They were accommodated in several government offices or stayed
with relatives.

As of Saturday afternoon, many had begun returning home as the
flooding had largely subsided.

Arlan said the government would not distribute aid because
most of the residents had already gone home.

Floods are rampant in North Sumatra during the rainy season,
and the situation is rapidly deteriorating due to severe
deforestation.

Only recently, a flash flood ripped through a resort town in
the province, leaving more than 140 people dead.

In a related development, one person was killed and four
houses destroyed after a storm swept through Sangihe regency in
North Sulawesi on Thursday and Friday.

In the Central Java town of Kediri, flooding hit Ngancar
district on Friday and Saturday, but no fatalities were reported.
The flooding resulted in a bridge in Pandantoyo subdistrict being
badly damaged, which left a number of residents isolated, Antara
news agency reported on Saturday.