Flooding drives people out of homes in Kalimantan, Sumatra

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Flooding over the past week around the country drove people from their homes and damaged infrastructure and crops.

Hundreds of people in Palembang, South Sumatra, who live on the banks of the Musi River had to seek refuge after the river burst its banks and inundated their houses.

"It is very frustrating, the water just comes and go almost every day. We are tired of cleaning up the mud," one Palembang resident, Cek Inten, was quoted by Antara as saying on Sunday.

More severe flooding was reported in Muara Enim, Ogan Komering Ilir, Musi Banyuasin and Prabumulih regencies.

In South Barito, Central Kalimantan, residents living on the banks of the Barito River have been tested by over a week of flooding.

Floodwaters have submerged homes and the road connecting two neighborhoods in the capital of the province.

The local administration has distributed aid for residents affected by the flooding.

South Barito administration spokesman Jumadi said packages of rice, cooking oil and sugar were being distributed to families in seven villages.

In the neighboring regency of North Barito, flooding has submerged paddy fields.

Floodwaters also have damaged government buildings, school buildings and community health centers.

Faced with a possible harvest failure, rice growers in the area have demanded the local government write off their loans.

In Lampung, intense rain over the past several days has lead to flash flood, damaging a highway connecting the province with the neighboring province of South Sumatra.

Parts of Tulangbawang and Way Kanan regencies were still underwater on Sunday. Flooding in the regencies has killed at least two people.

Damage to eight kilometers of highway in Tulang Bawang regency has forced authorities to divert traffic. Motorists are being advised to take a detour through Way Kanan regency.

The heavy rain has caused concern about the possibility of landslides along the highway.

"In the past week, there have been eight reports of landslides," local official Taufiq Hidayat said as quoted by Antara news agency.

Sumatra and Kalimantan are among numerous islands in the country hit by flooding in the past several months.