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.