Thousands evacuated after West Java floods
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)