Waves sweep away 130 houses

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)