South Sulawesi flooding kills 8

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)