Huge waves destroy W. Aceh houses

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: About 210 houses were swept away when huge waves lashed several seashore villages in Meulaboh, Western Aceh.

No immediate casualties were reported, Antara noted.

Most of the houses were located in the villages of Pasir, Suak Ribee, Suak Indrapuri and Ujung Kalak, Meulaboh subdistrict head Zulfadly Puteh said here yesterday.

Puteh said 1,083 villagers were evacuated to safer areas where they were being housed in makeshift shelters.

He said a similar occurrence last week saw huge waves hitting areas as far as three kilometers inland.

A 1,000-meter long concrete dike in Meulaboh and the historical monument Teuku Umar Djohan Pahlawan were also damaged in last week's tidal fury.

In 1983, huge waves swept 75 houses from the same area into the sea.