Resettlers isolated by floods

POSO, Central Sulawesi: As many as 964 resettled families in the Longge and Dataran Bulan transmigration units have been isolated in the jungle by floods for a month.

Head of the local office of the Ministry of Transmigration, Almudjir Gani, told Antara on Friday that he could not reach the location because of a flood he claims covers 40 km of the access road.

Food and supplies can't be transported by land because a bridge was also damaged, Gani said.

Poso Regent Arief Patanga said he had ordered the local authorities to use a Cessna plane of an American Christian missionary in Tentena to take supplies to the stricken areas.

"We have sent four tons of rice by two flights so far," he said, adding that the supply would only last two weeks.

He also added that efforts to repair the road and damaged facilities have begun. (03)