Storms destroy 10 houses

CILACAP, Central Java: Heavy rain and strong winds destroyed 10 houses in Tambaksari village, Kedungreja district, yesterday afternoon, leaving 12 families homeless.

Cilacap Regent Mohammad Soepardi visited the disaster site and promised to provide financial assistance to the 15 residents who were injured. The regent also took food for the families who lost their homes.

The gale also toppled dozens of trees.

In Banjarnegara regency two days of heavy rain caused a landslide in the village of Kertosari, Kalibening district, which shares a border with Pekalongan regency.

A 20-meter portion of the road connecting Pekalongan and Banjarnegara was buried under a 10-meter-high pile of dirt.

Banjarnegara Regent Nurachmad said local people, public works ministry employees and Armed Forces personnel cleared the road. Traffic had returned to normal by yesterday morning.

The road was built in 1990. It has been hit previously by landslides in 1992 and 1995. (wah)