Fri, 21 Jan 2000

Floods destroy potato field

WONOSOBO, Central Java: Continuous heavy rains in the past couple of days have deluged the mountainous area of Dieng near here, damaging over 100 hectares of potato field.

The villages worst hit by the freak floods were Patakbanteng and Parikesit, both are situated in Kejajar district.

The water level, at a height of half a meter, has destroyed all of the crops.

"It's strange because it has never happened before," Slamet Rudi, a village chief, said.

"We are also afraid of a possible landslide," he said, adding that the villagers were all prepared for evacuation. (45/edt)