Thousands of houses flooded in C. Java

Thousands of houses flooded in C. Java

SEMARANG: Some 3,300 houses in 14 villages in Cilacap regency
were inundated on Wednesday following two days of heavy rains.

As of Wednesday afternoon, the water was as high as 1.5 meters
in some locations.

Officials said the flooding occurred when a 15-meter-long dam
on Cibeureum River broke under the increased water pressure
resulting from the rain.

"In Sidorejo district flood waters hit the villages of
Gunungrejo, Sodorejo, Sidomulyo, Tinggarjaya, Margasari and
Tegalsari," Central Java spokesman B. Soetrisno said on
Wednesday.

Sidorejo was the worst hit area with over half of the
inundated houses in that district. Hundreds of villagers have
sought refuge on higher ground.

"About 170 people are being sheltered at the Sidorejo military
office," Soetrisno said.

He added that the local administration was considering
permanently relocating residents.

"Flooding occurs almost every year, so I think a resettlement
program is the only answer to this problem," Soetrisno said.
(har/edt)