Floods inundate eight districts in South Kalimantan province

Floods inundate eight districts in South Kalimantan province

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Flooding hit eight districts in the South Kalimantan regency of
Tabalong, killing one person and inundating thousands of houses
in the area.

The flooding affected the districts after torrential rain had
pounded the area on the previous day, Antara news agency reported
on Friday.

Didiet Wahyuni, deputy head of the People's Welfare Office at
the East Kalimantan provincial administration, said the eight
districts were Tanjung (the regency capital), Murung Pudak,
Tanta, Muara Harus, Haruai, Kelua, Pugaan and Banua Lawas.

Flooding in three districts -- Tanjung, Murung Pudak and Tanta
-- had already subsided by Friday, but was still affecting Kelua,
Banua Lawas and Pugaan districts.

In Pugaan district, a local resident, Mila, a mother of two
children, died after she fell into a river and was swept away by
a strong current on Friday.

According to testimony from witnesses, the victim was sitting
in a boat on the river in Pugaan district, along with the three
members of her family. However, the boat capsized with them still
aboard, which forced the four passengers to jump into the river.

The 25-year-old Mila was dragged by the strong current that
led her to her death, while the three others were saved by
locals.

Her remains were found by locals several kilometers away from
the scene of the incident.

Meanwhile, another official, Husni Indar, said that thousands
of local people from the eight districts had been badly affected
by the flooding. The government would immediately set up public
kitchens to help alleviate their misery.

The floods also inundated paddy fields in the eight districts,
rendering them inaccessible.