South Sulawesi flooding kills 8

UJUNGPANDANG, South Sulawesi: At least one more man has died in widespread floods striking the province since Saturday, bringing the death toll to eight and severely disrupting public services.

Rescue workers identified the victim as Umar Dg. Ngeppe of Takalar. No other details were available. As of Tuesday afternoon, the regencies of Barru, Pangkep, Maros, Soppeng, Gowa and Takalar were still inundated.

South Sulawesi is among several provinces hit by flooding in recent days. On Friday, eight people died and 13 were injured when a flash flood hit a gold mining area in Bengkulu province, Sumatra. Four were killed in North Sulawesi when landslides caused by torrential rain buried their houses in Liwas, Ranomuut village, early Saturday.

Takalar community neighborhood security chief Capt. Muh. Nurdin said Tuesday at least 100 houses and 700 hectares of rice fields were inundated in the districts of South Polongbangkeng, Canrego and Maradekanya.

In Pattallassang, Pallantikang, Kalabirang, Manggarabombang, Mangadu and Lengkese, at least 2,400 hectares of paddy fields and 250 houses were swamped.

"At least 20 mosques, 14 elementary school buildings, one high school, one health post and one police subprecinct were damaged by floods," Nurdin added.

At least 50 people are reported to be suffering from post- flood illnesses of diarrhea and skin infections. (27/30/edt)