Floods return to Riau, Jambi

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.