Flooding warning system broken

JAMBI, Jambi: Seventeen out of 20 flood early warning devices in Jambi are broken, putting thousands of lives in the region at risk from flash floods, an expert says.

The broken water-level recorders made it difficult for concerned parties to check the water levels in the upper reaches of the province's rivers, Batanghari monitoring team chief Suprijanto said.

If people were not alerted and evacuated in advance, a flash flood could sweep the lower areas and lead to massive fatalities, he said.

"The government must repair the devices or buy new ones," Suprijanto said. -- JP