Jon Afrizal, The Jakarta Post, Jambi | Archipelago | Wed, January 15 2014, 8:24 AM
Heavy flooding has disrupted life in parts of Sumatra and Java, as floodwaters have inundated thousands of homes and displaced nearly 17,000 residents in Jambi province, turning hundreds of acres of farmland in Karawang, West Java into swamp.
The Jambi Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) emergency response division head M. Dalmanto said on Monday the flood evacuees comprised 5,211 families found in the three affected regencies of Merangin, Sarolangun and Bungo.
The majority are from Bungo, where 16,740 people, or 4,329 families living in 4,779 homes were displaced by flooding resulting from heavy rainfall over the past several weeks.
The Jaya Setia village in Pasar Muaro Bungo district was the worst affected, where many homes were inundated with up to half a meter of water.
Heavy rainfall over the past several days was also responsible for floods that spread throughout hundreds of homes and damaged a number of public facilities in Merangin regency.
“The water level is up to 1.5 meters high,” said Merangin BPBD emergency response and disaster mitigation division head Afrizal on Monday, adding that flooding had also hit Muara Delang village in Tabir Selatan district.
In that district, the floods were triggered by the overflowing Sahut River, which affected at least four homes and a road and damaged drains.
In Karawang, West Java, hundreds of hectares of rice fields in West Telukjambe district became inundated after heavy rainfall caused the Cibeet River to burst its banks.
Karangligar village chief Sopandi said the floods had swamped more than 100 hectares of rice fields in the area.
“In Pengasinan hamlet alone, 150 hectares of rice fields have been covered by the floods,” he was quoted by Antara news agency as saying.
The floods have not only covered rice fields, but also 354 homes occupied by 1,380 people.
The floods in West Telukjambe district have hit the three villages of Karangligar, Sukamakmur and Parungmulya.
From Sunday evening until Monday morning, flood victims living in three villages in West Telukjambe district were seen salvaging their belongings and moving them to safer areas.