Floods destroy several houses and bridges, close schools

Suherdjoko, The Jakarta Post, Kendal, Central Java

Flooding destroyed four houses and four bridges in Kendal regency, Central Java, following hours of heavy rain, officials said on Tuesday.

Flooding also prompted authorities in Banjar regency, South Kalimantan, to close a number of schools.

There were no reports of casualties or injuries in the floods.

One house was swept away and three others collapsed in Limbangan subdistrict, Kendal, in flooding triggered by heavy rain that started at 11 a.m. on Monday on Mount Ungaran.

Five other houses were severely damaged in flooding in Sri Wulan, Barongan, Pagertoyo and Sumberahayu villages.

Four bridges connecting the four villages were also destroyed.

A search and rescue team was deployed by Central Java authorities on Monday night but found no human bodies in the disaster.

However, more than 6,500 chickens belonging to local resident Priyanto from Barongan village drowned in their coops.

The natural disaster task force in Tegal said it had received a report on the floods in Limbangan at 2 p.m. on Monday, four hours before the search and rescue team arrived there to give assistance.

Limbangan subdistrict head Sudarno Patawijaya said heavy rain caused the nearby river to burst its banks. "Floodwater has even reached the bridge's road surface," he added.

Also in neighboring Semarang, a bridge leading to Tinjomoyo Zoo in Banyumanik subdistrict collapsed in floodwater on Tuesday.

Motorists became stranded as a result.

Meanwhile, authorities in Banjar, South Kalimantan regency, closed several schools on Tuesday due to severe flooding in the area.

Water has reached 30 to 100 centimeters deep in five districts in the regency over the past few days.

"The schools have been closed in order to protect the students from the floods," said Banjar administration spokesman Syahda Mariadi as quoted by Antara.

He said the schools that had been closed included 10 elementary schools in Jingah Habang subdistrict and one junior high school.

In some places, the schools were almost one meter deep in floodwater, as was the case with Tunggulirang elementary school in Martapura district, he said.

On Monday, Banjar Regent Rudy Arifin said the regental administration would provide aid to victims of flooding, such as public kitchens, makeshift tents and relief centers in areas hit by flooding.

It will also distribute rice seeds to farmers whose paddy fields have been swept away by floodwater, he added.

"We have allocated funds from the regency budget to deal with the natural disaster. We will use those funds to allay the misery of the flood victims," said Rudy.

The Banjar administration has allocated Rp 700 million (US$82,353) this year for natural disaster management.

Meanwhile, Syahda said the schools would reopen "when flooding has subsided and is no longer a threat to the students".