Thousands evacuated after West Java floods

BANDUNG (JP): Floods have inundated thousands of homes in at least six villages in South Bandung regency over the past two weeks, forcing thousands of residents to evacuate.

No official report of casualties was available for the flash flood which hit the villages of Tegal Sumedang, Jelekong, Sukamanah, Sangiang, Bojongloa, and Linggar in the Rancaekek and Bojongsoang subdistricts yesterday.

However, residents said two people, a 60-year-old man from Sukamanah and an unidentified person, drowned in the Citarik river yesterday.

All of the villages are on the course of the Citarum river, which has three major tributaries -- the Citarik, Cidurian and Cipamokolan rivers.

Residents said the flash flood followed a heavy downpour in Tanjungsari subdistrict, Sumedang regency, which lies 20 kilometers east of South Bandung regency in the upper part of the Citarum watershed.

Meanwhile, outbreaks of diarrhea and water-borne skin disease have been reported in Rancasari subdistrict, Bandung mayoralty, where over 250 houses have been inundated for over two weeks.

Quoting an official in the local health office, Antara said four residents in the subdistrict were suffering from diarrhea and dozens had skin rashes.

The news agency also reported that over 350 houses in Cileunyi subdistrict, South Bandung, were inundated when the Citarik river burst its banks. Twelve people are suffering from diarrhea and many more have skin diseases.

In all the flood-hit areas, large areas of paddy field have reportedly been destroyed.

Suherman, an official at an emergency command post in Jelekong village, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that 11 hectares of paddy field in the village had been ruined.

"There are larger areas (of paddy fields flooded) in other villages," said Suherman, who is the Jelekong village head.

He said his village area, which measures 130 hectares, had been inundated by water up to one-and-a-half meters deep. The village has 850 houses and 3,091 residents, he added.

Meanwhile, Yayah, the Sukamanah village head, said there was a population of over 5,410 in her 421 hectare area.

She said her village had been inundated by flood waters for over two weeks, but estimated yesterday's flood to be the worst yet. Three hundred and ninety hectares of ripe paddy fields were destroyed in the flood.

Separately, South Bandung Regent Hatta Djati Permana said yesterday his priority was to evacuate all residents.

Many flood victims had been provided with shelter in village halls, schools and mosques, he said.

The regency has sent relief food supplies to emergency command posts set up in every village hit by the flood.

Residents said they also needed dry clothes and blankets.

Scores of police and soldiers were seen helping with yesterday's evacuation. (43/aan)