One missing in Jayapura flood

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: A university student is missing after flood waters inundated parts of this provincial capital and nearby Abepura district from Saturday to Sunday morning.

Urbanus Piran, a resident of Abepura, told Antara on Monday that Zakarias Sudir, a student of the Fajar Timur Catholic Theology and Philosophy College, is believed to have been trapped at Padang Bulan housing complex at Abepura, where the muddy water level reached the roofs of the houses.

According to Urbanus, the student was building a hut near the Cendrawasih University complex at Abepura for his pigs.

At least 350 people have been evacuated from their houses by local search and rescue workers, who have used four rubber boats to reach the flood victims.

Some 50 vehicles have been reportedly engulfed by the flood, which occurred after heavy rains berated the area for four hours.

In some areas, flood waters also damaged asphalt roads.

The worst hit area was Abepura, 20 kilometers from the province capital. (bsr/34)