Floods, landslides, storms beset E. Java and Sumatra

JAKARTA (JP): The Bengawan Solo river in Bojonegoro, East Java, continued to overflow on Sunday, inundating thousands of houses and hundreds of hectares of rice fields in the area.

Fortunately no fatalities have been reported.

The subdistricts of Padangan, Kalitidu, Dander and Trucuk were mostly immersed with Cemungklung village in Kalitidu being the worst hit with water reaching half-a-meter in height.

"Residents have yet to move. We still cook but the stove has to be placed in a higher place like our bed," said Kasri, a resident at the village.

Material losses are estimated to be in hundreds of millions of rupiah.

"This flood is bigger than last year's. It also affects a wider area," Kasri said adding that there is a fear of more impending floods as heavy rainfalls continue.

Meanwhile in Lebak regency, Serang, Banten, the search for victims of a landslide continued with fears that the death toll would increase.

Antara claimed that as many as 94 people were killed.

About 81 of the dead were residents of Cipanas subdistrict.

Most of the victims at Cipanas were workers of a traditional gold mine at Lebak Situ village.

Lebak Situ village chief Sahari urged the local administration and police to build tents to accommodate people so they would be willing to move from their houses.

"There are around 50 houses who continue to be prone to landslides. Some five hectares of land above the village has started to slide, but the residents don't want to move," he said.

Landslides have also cut the road between Cipanas and Warungbanten which have caused Lebak Buah and Bojong Sarung to be isolated.

The head of the Social Office at the Lebak administration, Eri Rachmat, said the office has alloted some Rp 8 million (US$842.1) in aid and 300 kilograms of rice to be given to victims.

As for the tents, Eri said that the administration did not have it. Therefore, he asked residents of safer areas to provide shelter to those who had to flee their homes.

Meanwhile in Bandar Lampung, a hurricane stormed into South Lampung and West Lampung regencies on Saturday, killing at least two people.

Many buildings were damaged and over 100 coconut trees were blown down. It also caused a blackout in several areas of West Lampung.

A hurricane also occurred in Batu and Malang, East Java on Saturday, killing a man and injuring at least three people who were hit by falling trees.

About 42 trees fell, and the hurricane also tore down billboards and damaged five houses.

It also caused minor landslides at three places, between Batu and Kasembon subdistrict. (hdn)