Floods hit 58 villages

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: Fifty-eight villages in four districts in North Aceh have been hit by flashfloods believed to have come from Keureuto River, Antara reported.

There were no reports of casualties.

The river overflowed after a heavy downpour on Monday, the news agency quoted Ismail Ibrahim, an official of the Social Services Office of North Aceh Regency, as saying.

Floods struck at around midnight when most people were asleep.

Ismail could not give the precise number of people left homeless by the disaster but said that at least 300 families had been evacuated to a dry ground.

The food supply is running short and North Aceh's rice for aid relief has also been depleted, he said. (emb)