Waves sweep away 130 houses

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: At least 130 houses were swept away by huge waves that hit two villages in Johan Pahlawan district, West Aceh.

The coastal area faces the Indian Ocean.

Antara news agency reported yesterday that vast waves had hit the two villages since May 14, 1998, and the local administration had yet to announce how many lives had been claimed.

Ibnu Hajar, chief of the local office of the Ministry of Social Service, said 819 people from the two villages had been evacuated to safety.

He added that the waves were the worst in the last 13 years. Some 75 houses were badly damaged when a huge wave hit the two villages in 1993.

The waves occur during a change in the direction of the prevailing wind. (rms)