1,240 Residents Displaced by Overflowing Bengawan Solo River

Bojonegoro, E Java (Antara) - As many as 1,240 residents of some villages in Bojonegoro, East Java, are displaced by the overflowing of Bengawan Solo River on Sunday. Spokesperson of Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) of Bojonegoro MZ. Budi Mulyono said that the water height of the longest river in Java reached 15.28 meter in Bojonegoro, reaching alert III level on Sunday at 2pm local time. "The data we received in the afternoon showed 1,240 victims of overflowing Bengawan Solo River are taking refugee in some camps," Mulyono said. The refuge camps among others a multipurpose building in Ledokwetan Village, Kota Subdistrict and Etaba Building in Sumberejo Village, Trucuk Subdistrict. Data from BPBD showed that at least 31 villages in some subdistricts such as Padangan, Purwosari, Malo, Trucuk, Kalitidu, Dander, Kota, Kapas and Balen were inundated by water from Bengawan Solo River. As many as 1,705 resident houses and 1,515 hectares of rice field are inundated. The local disaster mitigation agency is still gathering report of flood victims from the affected area. Residents of Ledokkulon, Ledokwetan, Kota Subdistrict and some villages in Dander and Kalitidu subdistricts have been evacuated to refuge camps. Some residents of Sumbangtimun Village of Trucuk subdistrict, meanwhile, build temporary shelters in nearby area that is not inundated. "Dozens of cattle and goats have been evacuated to refuge camps as water has inundated the houses," said a resident of Sumbangtimun Village Moch. Said, who built a temporary shelter with some villagers in the nearby limestone hill. Moreover, a resident, Yadi, said water height had reached one meter and inundated his house in Ledokkulon Village. (*)