Nearly 20 Thousand Inhabitants of West Aceh Affected by Flooding

Meulaboh, Aceh, (Antara) - More than 19,289 inhabitants of West Aceh District, Aceh Province, have been affected by floods that ravaged 11 sub-districts.

Thousands of local residents were evacuated, as the floods spread to wider areas, Iraidi Yus, head of the West Aceh disaster and logistics office, stated here, Sunday.

"Kaway XVI Sub-district is the worst hit by flooding," he remarked.

Of the total 12 sub-districts in West Aceh, 11 have been flooded since the last four days, he added.

As many as 5,946 households comprising 19,289 people have been affected by the floodwaters reaching a height of up to some two meters.

The flooding was triggered by incessant heavy rains that caused the Woyla and Meurebo Rivers to overflow their banks.

The local disaster mitigation office has deployed swift response teams to help evacuate the flood victims.

Meanwhile, floods and landslides have cut off several main roads in southwest of Aceh Province, isolating many villages.

In Aceh Jaya, five sub-districts were flooded following incessant torrential rains.

In Mugo Cut Village, West Aceh District, a 62-year-old villager M. Isa went missing after being swept away by the floodwaters.

A search and rescue team has been deployed to look for the missing victim.

Hundreds of houses were inundated in West Aceh District following incessant downpour that caused two rivers to overflow.

Indonesia is experiencing more such intense events in January 2017 due to the strong La Niña phenomenon, known for causing torrential downpours and widespread flooding across the state.

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) has cautioned the people to remain vigilant against hydrometeorological disasters during January-April and November-December 2017.

"From June to October, drought that could induce forest and plantation fires might occur. Moreover, there might be earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the BNPB spokesman, had stated in December 2016 while releasing the agency's weather forecast for disasters in 2017.(*)