Storms, floods dampen Idul Fitri celebration

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Storms and floods hampered Idul Fitri celebrations across the country, and left one person dead and hundreds of homes damaged.

A heavy storm hit Temanggung regency in Central Java on Tuesday, the first day of Idul Fitri.

The storm tore the roofs off several homes and uprooted trees in the area.

No fatalities were reported in the incident, which occurred in the subdistricts of Drono and Boto Putih.

In Malang regency, East Java, a flood hit Sumbermanjing Wetan district on Sunday, killing one person and forcing thousands of others to seek refuge on higher ground.

Kantri, 65, a resident of Sitiardjo village in the district, died when floodwaters swept through his house.

About 3,000 others had to be evacuated from their homes because of the flood.

The flooding, which hit just days before the Idul Fitri celebrations, was triggered by heavy rain in the area since Thursday of last week.

"The flood destroyed 150 houses, 20 hectares of farmland and public infrastructure such as schools. Material losses amount to Rp 22.8 billion," said Haryono, the district's secretary, as quoted by Antara on Sunday.

Flooding also hit the neighboring district of Tirtoyudo, destroying 70 hectares of farmland and forcing 96 local residents to be evacuated.

Deforestation is being blamed for the flooding.

In order to prevent future floods, local councillor Asminin Sanusi promised that the Malang legislative council would expedite the passing of a bylaw to protect the forests in the regency.

Sitiardjo village is known to be prone to flooding. It experienced a large flood in 1985, but no fatalities were reported.

East Java Governor Imam Oetomo visited Sitiardjo on Wednesday, ordering the local government to rebuild public facilities in the area.

During his visit, the governor handed over 10 tons of rice and Rp 100 million ((US$11,764) for the victims of the natural disaster.

The governor called on people living in the Sitiardjo subdistrict to voluntarily relocate, as the area, located near the Rowotantri River, is prone to natural disasters.

Meanwhile, a flood on Monday night damaged 60 houses in the city of West Baturaja, the capital of the Ogan Komering Ulu regency in South Sumatra.

The natural disaster forced residents in the city to cancel Idul Fitri celebrations, and instead evacuate their belongings from their inundated houses using makeshift rafts.

No fatalities were reported in the incident.

Separately, a storm damaged 20 houses and thousands of hectares of farmland in the East Nusa Tenggara regencies of Central Timor and North-Central Timor on Monday.

The subdistricts of Seo and Loli were badly affected by the storm, which uprooted trees and tore the roofs off houses in the two areas.

"A heavy storm suddenly hit the area and uprooted trees and crops in our area," said Marten Nuban, a resident of Loli village.

The storm lasted just minutes, but the impact was devastating, said Immanuel Nokas, a resident of Seo subdistrict.

He said the storm was the first of its kind in his village.