Overflowing Bengawan Solo Inundates 100 Villages in Bojonegoro

Jakarta (Antara) - Water from the overflowing Bengawan Solo River has inundated nearly 100 villages in 15 sub-districts in Bojonegoro, East Java, National Disaster Mitigation Agency stated on Friday. In a written statement received on Friday, the Head of Data and Information Center of National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) Sutopo Purwo Nugroho noted that the longest river in Java Island has been overflowing for the past six days since Sunday (Dec. 15). "Hundred villages in 15 sub-districts are flooded, thereby affecting 8,562 family heads. The flooding has forced 1,675 residents to evacuate their homes," Nugroho added. The four flood-related deaths were reportedly children. They were Mustain (3) of Payaman Village, Andika Sanca Putra (13) of Kedungbondo Village, Riva Mariska (7) of Bungas Hamlet Guyangan Village, and Maharani Putri (1.5) of Semanding Village. Water also inundated 4,965 hectares of rice fields and 575 hectares of crops in the region, Nugroho remarked. The local authorities are working together to fortify parts of the Bengawan Solo River dike in Kanor Village and Kadungrejo Village. (*)