Gale strikes Wonogiri

SURAKARTA, Central Java: Some 255 houses were badly damaged by a powerful gale that struck the Wonogiri regency on Thursday evening.

Wonogiri Regent Begug Purnomosidi said here on Friday that the local military, police and local people were still working hard to repair the damaged houses.

"We have also set up temporarily shelters to accommodate people whose houses were damaged in the disaster," he said.

He called on Wonogiri people living in other regencies and provinces to give material assistance to help repair the victims' houses.

He said the gale struck the regency without warning after a heavy downpour on Thursday. --Antara