Floods claim 18 lives

Floods claim 18 lives

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: This week's floods that swept East Aceh regency inflicted more than Rp 200 billion ($86 million) in material losses, a provincial administration official said yesterday.

Afifuddin Ibrahim, a member of the administration's team to contain natural disasters, told Antara that the floods swept away 80 houses, completely destroyed 311 and damaged 2,312 others. Various infrastructure, like irrigation facilities and roads, and public facilities such as houses of worships and schools were also damaged.

The flood, said to be the worst in 50 years, claimed 18 lives.

"We cannot give the exact details. We're still calculating the extent of damage," Afifuddin said.

PT Telkom, the state telecommunication company, reported Rp 62 billion in damages, and the Education and Culture Office reported Rp 1 billion, while the damage inflicted on public facilities amounted to Rp 31 billion, Afifuddin said. (emb)