Locusts attack East Sumba

WAINGAPU, East Nusa Tenggara: The savanna and steppes of East Sumba have turned black and brown after "trillions" of locusts attacked corn and paddy crops in the regency, Antara reported on Thursday.

Regent Lukas Mb. Kaborang and head of the regency agriculture office Umbu Kaludang both agreed the problem was hopeless and the pest could no longer be overcome. The one metric ton of insecticide sent out by the provincial agriculture office turned out to be too little to curb, much less prevent, the attack.

As far as the eyes could see, nothing was in the sky but adult locusts, while the whole land in the regency was covered by baby locusts, the news agency said.

Fifty-four of the total 106 villages in the regency have been affected. Locals said this year's attack was far worse than the one in 1975.

Both officers raised alarm over the danger of food shortages for both humans and animals because of the attack. (swe)