Landslide hits Kampar, W. Lombok

Puji Santoso and Trisna Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Kampar/Mataram

Landslides have hit several areas in Kampar regency, Riau province and West Lombok regency, West Nusa Tenggara province, leaving three houses buried in mud and six villages cut off from the outside world.

The landslide in Kebon Ayu subdistrict, West Lombok regency, happened on Tuesday following heavy rain that began on Sunday. The heavy rain caused parts of Kelebot hill to collapse and fall onto the nearby houses.

Three houses were covered with mud, but luckily no fatalities were reported in the incident. At least 13 people have taken refuge in safer areas following the disaster.

"We have asked residents living near the hill to relocate, in order to avoid fatalities," said Baiq Indriyani, the head of Gerung district, West Lombok regency.

In Kampar regency, Riau province, six villages in the area have been isolated after a landslide struck the area on Friday two weeks ago. The area was cut off until Tuesday, leaving food supplies running low in the area. The disaster has affected thousands of residents in the six villages.

"Our supplies will run out within five days. If food aid does not come soon, the residents will suffer from hunger," said chief of Tanjung Karang subdistrict Nazaruddin.

The six subdistricts in question are Muara Sebaya, Batu Sasak, Tanjung Karang, Sungai Raja, Lubuk Agung and Sungai Asam.

The local government deployed heavy machinery to the area on Sunday to remove mud from the streets and the work is still underway.