Flooding spreads in Kampar regency
Flooding spreads in Kampar regency
The Jakarta Post, Pekanbaru, Riau
Flooding, triggered by days of heavy rain, is spreading in Kampar
regency, Riau province, with thousands of houses and a number of
schools already inundated, local officials said on Wednesday.
No casualties or injuries were reported, however.
The floods hit five villages -- Tanjung Balam, Buluh Cina,
Kampung Pinang, Lubuk Siam and Teratak Buluh, all in Siak Hulu
subdistrict -- after the Kampar river burst its banks.
The floodwaters reached up to one meter in the affected
villages, all located near the river.
At least four elementary schools in the subdistrict were also
inundated, forcing their principals to send students home on
Monday. The schools have been closed since then.
"Due to heavy rain, the Kampar river overflowed and the
floodwaters have been inundating five villages since Nov. 30. The
level of water has drastically risen over the past three days,"
Siak Hulu subdistrict head Andiar told The Jakarta Post.
He said a report he had received showed that around 1,420
houses were affected -- 305 houses in Tanjung Balam, 365 in Lubuk
Siam, 350 in Kampung Pinang and 400 in Buluh Cina.
The floods had also inundated houses and other buildings in
seven villages in Tambang subdistrict, Kampar. There were no
information available on the number of buildings affected.
Kampar administration spokesman Subirman said his subdistrict
would soon set up a command post to handle the disaster, as it
was believed the floodwaters would continue to rise.
"Several villages -- Buluh Cina, Taratak Buluh, Danau
Bingkuang and Rumbia -- are highly prone to flooding. We are
worried that the floods could worsen if the rain continues
falling in upstream areas in (neighboring) West Sumatra,"
Subirman said.
On Nov. 2, a flash flood devastated a resort town in Bahorok
subdistrict in North Sumatra, leaving more than 150 people dead
and 100 others missing.
Deforestation is frequently blamed for the floods the occur
regularly across the country.