[Kabar-indonesia] Heavy rainfalls inundate hundreds of Medan homes [+Lampung water shortage]

[JoyoNews at aol.com]

also: JP: Bandarlampung hit by water shortage 

The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Heavy rainfalls inundate hundreds of houses 

Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Medan

photo: Water View: Children in Medan, North Sumatra, play in a flooded 
alleyway Monday. (JP/Apriadi Gunawan) 

Hundreds of houses in Medan, North Sumatra, have been inundated by 
overflowing rivers since Sunday, following days of heavy rain.

No casualties have been reported. 

The floods hit the districts of Medan Polonia, Medan Tuntungan, Medan Baru 
and Medan Petisah, forcing residents to flee to safer areas. Many are sleeping 
in mosques, government offices or relative's houses. 

Some residents returned home Monday afternoon after the flood risk subsided. 

A number of victims said the Babura and Deli rivers had burst their banks at 
about 9 p.m. Sunday. 

Petisah Tengah resident Martinis Tanjung said the village often flooded but 
on Sunday the water level had risen so fast that villagers fled in panic. 

"Water entered our houses within a matter of seconds. It was a meter deep," 
Martinis said, adding that up to 200 families had evacuated their homes. 

Hundreds of residents of the nearby Simalingkar housing complex did not even 
have the chance to gather together their belongings because there was a 
blackout. 

"How could we save our things in complete darkness. All we could do was run," 
said Hendarsyah, who lives in the complex. 

Arlan Nasution, a spokesman for the city administration, said it was 
coordinating with district heads to assist the evacuees. 

He said that in line with information he had received from the Medan 
Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, the rainy season, which usually takes place in 
North Sumatra from September to December, had the potential to cause major floods 
and landslides. 

"We urged the residents, particularly those living on riverbanks, to be aware 
of the high flood risk during the rainy season." 

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The Jakarta Post
Tuesday, October 3, 2006

Bandarlampung hit by water shortage 

BANDARLAMPUNG, Lampung: Bandarlampung residents are experiencing a water 
shortage because nearly all their wells have dried up due to prolonged dry 
weather. 

Many are traveling long distances to collect water from areas where there is 
still an ample supply in carts or pick-up trucks. 

In Sukarame district, for example, locals were asked to pay Rp 500 for a 
bucket of tap water. Those whose wells have not dried up are also selling water to 
neighbors. 

"Business is good. Orders for water are coming in every day," said Sukarame 
resident Giman, who recently started selling water. 

The Lampung Meteorology and Geophysics Agency says that the peak of the dry 
season occurred last month and that the wet season should start within a matter 
of weeks. -- JP 

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Joyo Indonesia News Service
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