Subdistrict chief becomes cowboy

Subdistrict chief becomes cowboy

PEKANBARU, Riau: Rengat subdistrict chief Purnomo was nicknamed "Cowboy" after helping the people herd 1,200 cows to grounds safe from flooding last week.

The bovine exodus was sparked when floods devoured vast areas throughout Riau after several deceptively sunny days. Earlier last week, floods inundated hundreds of houses and forced thousands of people to seek refuge.

"Pak (Mr.) Purnomo was seen herding and dragging cows like the cowboys we see on TV," Antara said quoting a resident.

Purnomo said the latest floods came so suddenly that many people did not have time to safeguard their belongings. "It was a terrible disaster," he said.

He said 39 heads of cattle, four buffaloes, 352 goats and several thousand chickens were swallowed by the floodwaters. (pan)