Floods destroy paddy fields

Floods destroy paddy fields

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Major floods have destroyed several hundred hectares of ready-for-harvest paddy rice and inundated homes in several villages in the Southeast Aceh regency.

The floods were triggered by incessant rains that have pounded the area since Tuesday, causing rivers to overflow, local official said yesterday.

A spokesman for the regency office of social services, Syahadan, said that in the worst hit villages, flood levels were as high as one meter and, as of yesterday, they showed no sign of receding.

Antara reported that although there are no reports of casualties, the floods are a hard blow to farmers in the regency, which is known as Aceh's "rice barn".

The local government is yet to estimate the loss the floods have inflicted on the residents. (pan)