Floods hit crops in Sumatra; another victim found in Bali

Floods hit crops in Sumatra; another victim found in Bali

JAKARTA (JP): Floods have hit South Sumatra regencies but
residents have refused to budge despite several warnings from the
authorities, saying Thursday they most feared for the safety of
their crops.

Meanwhile the search for victims of last Thursday's landslides
in Gianyar, Bali, found one more victim, with a further casualty
still believed to be under the mud. Following another landslide
on Tuesday in Jember, East Java, rescuers on Thursday said they
were also looking for two more people.

Hundreds of hectares of fields planted with paddy, corn and
other crops in Lahat and Muara Enim regencies were reportedly
affected by flash floods after heavy rains had fallen for three
days.

Antara reported that in both regencies rivers had overflowed.
In Lahat floods hit some 500 hectares of fields in the
Pulaupinang, Kikim and Merapi districts. Water entered homes but
residents worried most about their food supplies.

"Floods here never sweep away our homes," an informal leader,
Alkodri, 65, said in Pulaupinang. "We only fear for our crops, as
the paddy stalks will get spoiled if they are continuously in
water." The father of five said if the flood waters did not
subside within five days all crops would be damaged.

He said the mostly badly affected crops were the ones in
fields nearest to the Lematang river in Lahat.

In Muara Enim, the worst hit area was in Gunungmegang
district. Sources here said flash floods occur twice a year in
the village along the Enim River.

Apart from damage to at least 50 hectares of crops, the agency
reported that hundreds of homes were also under water.

"Flash floods here often occur and our homes are on stilts, so
it's the crops that we're most worried about," said villager A.
Taufik, 53. Water usually subsides after two days, residents
said.

"Last year we lost around 200 hectares of crops to the
floods," Taufik said. The floods lasted for more than a week.

Muara Enim Regent Sofyan Effendie said villagers of
Gunungmegang Dalam had been asked to evacuate, adding he has
often said they should move because the low land was not suitable
for residential purposes. However his reminders have gone
unheeded.

Lahat Regent Harunata was quoted as saying that residents,
particularly those living along the Lematang river, should be
even more vigilant this year against flash floods and landslides.

In Jember two more victims were reportedly still missing
following landslides on Tuesday.

Coordinator of the local flood and natural disaster control
unit, Djolli Kitty, said Thursday that search operations for
Miati, 47, and Layati, 13, had so far failed due to continuous
rains.

The landslide in Baban Barat hamlet of Harjo Mulyo village
reportedly hit three people including those still missing. The
site of the state-run forestry firm Perhutani is prone to
landslides, blamed on frequent land clearing for settlements
here.

In Gianyar, Bali, residents joining a rescue team are still
looking for one more victim of the landslide in the Timbul hamlet
of Pupuan village.

Also on Thursday one more victim, I Nyoman Budiasa, was
recovered at the site some 40 kilometers to the northeast of
Denpasar, bringing the toll to 36 so far.

Antara reported the finding of Budiasa, 38, added spirit to
rescuers still digging for Anak Agung Anom Adnyana, believed to
be the remaining victim under the mud, though initial estimates
were 50 victims.

Military and police, students and residents led by Regent
Cokorda Gde Budi Suryawan were still braving rains which brought
threats of another landslide to the search attempt.

A soothsayer, the agency said, was also brought in by
relatives of the missing to help with the search. (anr)