Floods spread to W. Java

Floods spread to W. Java

BANDUNG (JP): Spreading floods in West Java have destroyed crops and forced nearly 10,000 people to flee their homes, Antara reported yesterday.

The news agency said that floods in West Java, Indonesia's main rice producer, had over the past several days destroyed 2,871 hectares of paddy fields and inundated more than 4,000 houses and schools in 13 villages.

"The worst flooding is in the Mulyasari village, which forced 8,840 people to move to safer areas," the agency reported.

It said several rivers in West Java had also burst their banks. Weather officials in Jakarta earlier said rains accompanied by strong winds were expected to continue until February.

At least 18 people have been killed and nearly 125,000 people have fled their homes since late December after the worst floods in 50 years in the eastern and western parts of Aceh province on Sumatra island.

The disaster has inflicted an estimated Rp 300 billion (US$ 130.6 million) in financial loss on the regions.

From Langsa, Aceh, Antara reported that Governor Syamsuddin Mahmud delivered President Soeharto's greeting to flood victims.

"The President said to tell you Assalaamu'alaikum (peace be upon you)...and that he's very concerned about you," Syamsuddin said on Friday.

The residents received, through the governor, some Rp 80 million from various government agencies. (swe)