Jambi floods gets worse

JAMBI: Hundreds of houses in three Jambi regencies have been hit by floodwaters between 50 cm and two meters deep on Saturday, forcing some residents to abandon their houses and move to higher ground.

The worst hit regency was Batanghari, where four districts -- Bathin XXIV, Muarasebo Ilir, Pemayung and Muarobulian -- were put on alert.

Six schools were also affected by the flooding, with a schools in Pemayung district being closed since Friday.

"The regental administration is currently distributing food aid to the district," said Batanghari regental administration's assistant on economic and development, Khailani, on Saturday.

The flood also affected four districts in Muarojambi regency, while in Bungo regency, a bridge connecting Renahjelmu and Tebingtinggi villages in Tanahtumbuh district was washed away by the flood.

Another bridge connecting Transabang and Tanjungtayas villages in Tungkalulu was also washed away, isolating 400 families there. -- JP