Heavy flooding hits Jember

SURABAYA, East Java: Heavy flooding drove 3,000 from their homes to higher ground in four Jember regency districts on Sunday.

Officials of the Jember regency government said that the floods were triggered by the collapse of a flood control structure in Kencong, 55 kilometers from Jember, following a day of heavy rain.

They said the government had erected makeshift tents and provided seven tons of rice for the evacuees.

The government has been trying to control the flooding with sandbags, Antara reported. (pan)