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)