Worst isn't over yet

Worst isn't over yet

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The worst is not over yet for the people in Aceh Timor regency whose homes were ravaged by floods early this month, Regency Chief Alauddin said yesterday.

Alauddin explained that rebuilding their homes is proving just as difficult as facing the flood, Antara reported.

"It will take a long time to rebuild the thousands of houses that were destroyed or swept away by the current," he said.

Officials reckon 321 buildings were swept away by the floods, 2,444 others destroyed and 8,591 others slightly damaged. The total material loss is estimated to reach Rp 76.1 billion ($33 million).

"We have begun repairs, starting with the schools, by providing blackboards and their tables so that children can resume their studies," Alauddin said.

The flood, which swept across 17 districts in the regency, killed 15 people, injured 1,393 others, and left 43,033 families or 252,933 people homeless, many permanently.

In addition to many buildings being damaged or destroyed, some 16,713 hectares of rice fields, 3,304 hectares of vegetables 3,432 hectares of fishponds were destroyed by the flood, and 65,812 cows, goats and hens were killed. (emb)