Flood Inundates 238 Houses in Pondok Batu Bengkulu

Mukomuko (Antara)- Flood waters submerged 238 houses in Pondok Batu village, Mukomuko District, Bengkulu, Province, as Selagan River overflowed its banks, an official said. "In Pondok Batu village, 238 houses are flooded. The village is the latest hit by such an inundation," Iskandar, a spokesman of the Mukomuko District Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD), said here Saturday. Iskandar was in the flood-affected village to distribute food to hundreds of flood victims. Floodwaters reaching a height of an adult's waist forced a number of villagers to evacuate to higher grounds. "Selagan River spilled over its bank and submerged nearby residential areas in the village beginning Friday noon and continuing until evening," he said. Earlier, floods had inundated nine villages in the district, but most of the flooding had subsided by Friday. A total of 744 houses were submerged by floodwaters. There were no reports of casualties. But, the floods damaged farm and plantation areas and killed poultry. Indonesia has begun to experience its rainy season this November. Floods have also been reported in Aceh, West Sumatra and Jakarta. Meanwhile, one villager was killed and at least 841 houses were flooded in Silaut Sub-District, South Pesisir District, West Sumatra Province since Thursday night, following incessant rains that lashed the area. (*)