Floods submerge crops, villages as heavy rain affects regions
Floods submerge crops, villages as heavy rain affects regions
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The torrential rains that have struck several parts of the
country over the past few days have given rise to widespread
floods that have submerged crops and homes.
In Belu, Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, at least 576 hectares of
corn were destroyed by the floods, prompting the local
administration to promise it would supply farmers with
replacement seeds.
Meanwhile, in Batanghari, Jambi, about 50 hectares of
ready-to-harvest crops were submerged by floodwaters that also
inundated six villages, forcing 3,000 people to flee their homes.
The six villages were Lopak Aur, Betung, Ture, Selat, Lubuk
Ruso and Senaning. No casualties have been reported so far.
The head of the agriculture office in Atambua, Frans Paremme,
said on Saturday that at least 576 hectares of corn in South Belu
had been flooded, with only 50 hectares still being capable of
being harvested.
"The crops have not only been submerged, but have also been
attacked by disease," Frans was quoted by Antara as saying
Saturday.
He gave assurances, however, that the government had already
procured corn seeds for planting during the next planting season
in March or April.
Frans said the local government had set up disaster posts in a
number of districts to prepare for further flooding. At least 25
personnel from the Belu agriculture office had been assigned to
these disaster posts.
In Jambi, Governor Zulkifli Nurdin visited a number of
villages located in the Batanghari river valley to hand over
emergency food assistance to affected families.
Accompanied by provincial secretary Chalik Saleh, Zulkifli
visited Selat village in Pemayung district, Batanghari, some 60
kilometers from Jambi, where he urged local people to remain on
the alert for future floods.
"We appeal to the public, especially parents, to take care of
their children when the river bursts its banks," the governor was
quoted by Antara as saying.
He also urged local village officials to set up flood posts to
report flooding incidents to regents and the governor.
The Batangsari river burst its banks on Friday, inundating at
least 30 villages.
Local resident Mislan, 45, said flooding regularly hit the
villages located in the Batangsari river valley.
"Usually, we don't plant rice during the rainy season, but
some farmers do," said Mislan, adding that those who did had
suffered huge financial losses.
He said major floods, like those that had occurred this year,
usually took place every four of five years.
"Well, sometimes we miscalculate. We had big floods last year
but this year another big flood has hit the villages," said
Mislan, adding that the floods had destroyed corn crops all along
the river.