Floods return to Riau, Jambi
Jon Afrizal and Puji Santoso, The Jakarta Post, Jambi, Pekanbaru
As thousands of people in Aceh and North Sumatra struggled for survival after Sunday's tsunamis, thousands of others in Jambi and Riau were dealing with flooding on Thursday after two weeks of rain.
Floodwaters reaching 1.5 meters high submerged hundreds of houses, schools and rice fields in Jambi. The large Batanghari River burst its banks, submerging roads connecting regencies in the province.
One regency administration has extended the school holiday for students, while another administration plans to hold classes in alternative locations.
Many people have remained in their homes despite the floodwaters.
Muarojambi regency spokesman Idaryami said the administration had set up crisis centers to deal with the flooding.
"Residents can come to the centers if the water levels in their houses increase," he told The Jakarta Post.
Jambi Mayor Arifien Manap has ordered officials to set up centers for residents forced from their homes by the flooding.
The head of Jambi's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, Aryana Yassin, predicted flooding would continue for some time.
"The monthly rainfall in December was above normal levels and this situation is expected to continue in January," he said.
December saw 314 millimeters of rain, with rainfall expected to reach 289 millimeters in January. The normal monthly rainfall level for this time of year is 176 millimeters.
Flooding also was experienced in Riau, with the Rokan River overflowing and paralyzing Tanah Putih subdistrict.
Tanah Putih subdistrict head Jhon Safridow said some 5,000 houses were submerged. Many residents have refused to leave their homes and are relying on donations, he said.
Some six kilometers of the main road connecting Riau with North Sumatra is beneath up to 50 centimeters of water, causing traffic jams in the area.
"Vehicles must go slowly, causing a massive traffic jam," Jhon told the Post by phone.
Earlier this month, seven people died in flooding in Riau province.
The area was hit by flooding in November last year, destroying crops and leaving residents, mostly farmers, without income from their crops.