Floods hit villages in Riau

Floods hit villages in Riau

PEKANBARU, Riau: A number of villages here and in Kampar
district have been inundated following incessant rains over the
past several days, Antara reported on Friday.

The flooded villages include Meranti Pandak, Rumbai, and
Teratak Buluh, where water reached up to almost 3 meters in
depth.

Meranti Pandak village head Agus Salim said some 1,680
families could be affected if the floods worsen. Makeshift tents
have been erected in case evacuation is needed.

This week floods have began hitting various areas in Indonesia
such as Lubuk Linggau in South Sumatra, and several sections of
roads linking Bandung with Tasikmalaya in West Java.

Meanwhile, in Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, shrimp farmers in
the Bukari Integrated Economic Development Zone have expressed
fears that rains would destroy their ponds. Floods last year
destroyed a vast area of ponds and caused Rp 5 billion in
financial losses.

"Even one day of rain is enough to worry us. Several days of
rains would cause major flooding because we don't have any dams,"
said Suradjuddin, the chief of Poleang Timur district, which is
one of seven districts in Bukari.

There are around 3,700 hectares of shrimp ponds in the 7,000
hectare area. Most of the farmers are migrants from South
Sulawesi.

Shrimp farming is one of the most important sources of income
for the area besides cacao and coconut plantations.

Governor La Ode Kaimoeddin recently visited the area and
witnessed how one day's rainfall inundated several villages. He
blamed the disaster on denuded forests in the area. (swe)