Lightning claims two lives

CILACAP, Central Java: Three days of incessant rains have made the Cibereum River overflow, submerging 485 homes and 270 hectares of farmland in 50 to 125 centimeters of water.

Two men were found dead after being stricken by lightning.

Hundreds of residents of Rejamulya and Bangunreja villages, Kedungreja, worked together to bolster the damaged river embankment by stacking 5,000 sand and soil sacks alongside it.

Districts in west Cilacap have also been affected by floods from Gatel and Pasir Canggah rivers, including the districts of Cipari, Wanareja, Cimanggu and Majenang.

The floods also caused a landslide in the Malabar village, Wanareja district, and in the Dutabima village, Cimanggu district. There water heavily damaged eight hectares of fields and a number of houses. (wah/01)