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)