Bengawan Solo Floods Inundate 109 Villages in Bojonegoro

Bojonegoro (Antara) - Floods due to overflowing Bengawan Solo River inundated at least 109 villages in 14 sub-districts in Bojonegoro, East Java, a spokesman of the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Bojonegoro said. The inundated sub-districts included Margomulyo, Ngraho, Kasiman, Padangan, Purwosari, Kalitidu, Malo Trucuk, Dander, Kota, Kapas, Balen and Kanor, Head of BPBD Bojonegoro Kasiyanto said here on Tuesday. Floods have affected around 8,454 families in the region. As many as 2,364 residents have evacuated themselves to emergency tents in Ledokwetan Village, Kota District, and along the levee of Bengawan Solo River and Bojonegoro-Cepu Road. The surface water level of Bengawan Solo River on Tuesday at 09.00 am local time was at 15.51 meter or at Alert III Level. "Floods from overflowing Bengawan Solo River in Bojonegoro has been on Alert III level for the last several hours. The water level might be stable (not receding) for the next several hours despite the receding water level at the headwaters in Ngawi," Kasiyanto said. However, Kasiyanto asked residents and officers in the evacuation posts to stay alert as the water debit might increase if more rains hit the region and on the headwaters. "We have instructed the disaster mitigation posts in the affected sub-districts and residents along the Bengawan Solo River to stay cautious," Kasiyanto said. Floods have caused around 2,515 cows and 1,464 goats to be evacuated. Around 2,761 hectares of rice field and 491 hectares of orchard crops are also inundated. "The estimated loss due to the floods was around Rp5.372 billion," Kasiyanto said. (*)