The Jakarta Post 16 Nov 16;
Nearly 2,000 homes in five districts in Rokan Hulu regency, Riau, were engulfed by floods caused by deteriorating weather on Tuesday.
According to the Rokan Hilir Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), the worst flooding occurred in Rambah district, where eight villages were inundated by the overflowing Batang Lubuh River.
In all, 3,396 residents in 978 families were affected by the disaster. Many of them were in Pematang Berangan village, home to 976 people in 321 families.
In Rambah Samo district, 1,082 people from 350 families living in five villages were forced to seek shelter away from home.
The Aliantan River also overflowed and swamped the homes of 340 people in 270 families in Aliantan and Batu Langkah villages in Kabun district, while in Tandun district, floods hit three villages and affected 690 people in 233 families.
Rokan Hulu BPBD head Aceng Herdiana said a number of shelters and public kitchens had been set up.
“We have also distributed instant noodles, rice and canned sardines to the flood victims,” Aceng told The Jakarta Post on Tuesday.
The recent heavy rainfall has also swamped farmland in Jambi.
Jambi City Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry Agency head Irwansyah said the affected areas included Pelayangan, Danau Teluk, Telanaipura and East Jambi districts.
Flooding in Kunangan village in Tebo regency, Jambi, left 130 homes submerged. Agriculture official Pargito said rice fields in the regency were at risk of crop failure because of the situation.
