Floods inundate Gorontalo, N. Sulawesi, and East Java
<p>Floods inundate Gorontalo, N. Sulawesi, and East Java</p><p> JAKARTA (JP): Continuous torrential rains led to a massive
flood which inundated thousands of houses in Gorontalo, some 450
kilometers east of Manado the capital of North Sulawesi on
Sunday, an official said.</p><p>"The rain kept on falling all Saturday and on Sunday the water
continued to rise about two centimeters every half hour in
several subdistricts in Gorontalo," Manado's chief of Search and
Rescue Agency (SAR) Soleman M. Kakoe told The Jakarta Post by
telephone.</p><p>Among the areas worst hit by floods were the subdistricts of
Biawu, Biawao, Siendeng, Ipilo and Tenilo, he said.</p><p>"In these areas the water level reached two meters high," he
said.</p><p>Besides its poor drainage system, Gorontalo is also close to
two major rivers, Bone and Bolango, and Limboto lake.</p><p>"Every time there is a high tide followed by rain the city
will be submerged," Soleman said.</p><p>Most residents fled to higher ground while some others opted
to stay in their homes if the water in their area was not too
high.</p><p>"I myself have a home in Gorontalo and I was hoping that the
water will subside soon ... but it's quite impossible as the
heavy downpour keeps continuing," he added.</p><p>Previous reports also stated that two people went missing in
the flood.</p><p>Gorontalo was not the only place hit by floods over the
weekend.</p><p>In Jember, East Java, heavy rains on Saturday through Sunday
caused an overflow of the Manyang river which led to flooding in
several villages in several districts.</p><p>Jenggawah, Temporejo and Ambulu districts were the worst hit
by the flood.</p><p>"We figure that the losses could reach hundreds of millions of
rupiah," Jauhari, a village chief in Cangkring of Jenggawah area
said as quoted by Antara.</p><p>As of Sunday afternoon people were still busy moving their
belongings to higher ground, including household possessions and
cattle.</p><p>"We hope the rains ease," Jauhari said.</p><p>Thousands of villagers sought refuge at nearby local public
buildings which were not flooded. (edt)</p>
flood which inundated thousands of houses in Gorontalo, some 450
kilometers east of Manado the capital of North Sulawesi on
Sunday, an official said.</p><p>"The rain kept on falling all Saturday and on Sunday the water
continued to rise about two centimeters every half hour in
several subdistricts in Gorontalo," Manado's chief of Search and
Rescue Agency (SAR) Soleman M. Kakoe told The Jakarta Post by
telephone.</p><p>Among the areas worst hit by floods were the subdistricts of
Biawu, Biawao, Siendeng, Ipilo and Tenilo, he said.</p><p>"In these areas the water level reached two meters high," he
said.</p><p>Besides its poor drainage system, Gorontalo is also close to
two major rivers, Bone and Bolango, and Limboto lake.</p><p>"Every time there is a high tide followed by rain the city
will be submerged," Soleman said.</p><p>Most residents fled to higher ground while some others opted
to stay in their homes if the water in their area was not too
high.</p><p>"I myself have a home in Gorontalo and I was hoping that the
water will subside soon ... but it's quite impossible as the
heavy downpour keeps continuing," he added.</p><p>Previous reports also stated that two people went missing in
the flood.</p><p>Gorontalo was not the only place hit by floods over the
weekend.</p><p>In Jember, East Java, heavy rains on Saturday through Sunday
caused an overflow of the Manyang river which led to flooding in
several villages in several districts.</p><p>Jenggawah, Temporejo and Ambulu districts were the worst hit
by the flood.</p><p>"We figure that the losses could reach hundreds of millions of
rupiah," Jauhari, a village chief in Cangkring of Jenggawah area
said as quoted by Antara.</p><p>As of Sunday afternoon people were still busy moving their
belongings to higher ground, including household possessions and
cattle.</p><p>"We hope the rains ease," Jauhari said.</p><p>Thousands of villagers sought refuge at nearby local public
buildings which were not flooded. (edt)</p>