Floods hit 1,470 houses

Floods hit 1,470 houses

BANDUNG: At least 1,470 houses in five villages at Baleendah
and Pamengpeuk districts in Bandung regency were inundated in the
early hours of Monday following a massive overflow from Citarum
river.

Among villages badly submerged in the natural disaster was
Kampung Papak Gede in Andir subdistrict, in which the water level
reached three meters high.

No casualties were reported in the floods that have
temporarily disconnected the route linking Dayeuhkolot and
Banjaran, about 20 kilometers south of here.

A Pamengpeuk district official Hamid Slamet said the absence
of torrential rains helped the water subside later in the day.

"Since 1989, these areas have been prone to flooding and the
local administration have tried to curb it by digging the Citarum
river and handling sedimentation problems. But so far nothing has
worked," Hamid said.

The losses resulted from the floods were estimated at Rp 89
million. (25/edt)