JAKARTA: (Bernama) More than 32,000 people have been affected and thousands of homes inundated by floods in Indonesia's Aceh province, forcing some residents to seek shelter as floodwaters continued to submerge several villages following heavy rainfall over the weekend.
National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Disaster Data, Information and Communication acting head Berton Panjaitan said the flooding in Pidie Jaya Regency, northern Aceh on Indonesia's Sumatra island, forced at least 40 people to seek temporary shelter to date.
He said heavy rainfall in upstream areas caused three rivers in the regency to rise on Sunday (Nov 8), inundating 8,608 homes across 43 villages in five districts, as well as surrounding agricultural land.
"Floodwaters were still inundating several villages in Pidie Jaya as of Tuesday afternoon, although water levels had begun to recede in some areas, leaving behind shallow pools and mud,” he said in a statement on Wednesday (Nov 11).
Berton said breaches in river embankments had worsened the flooding, while the disaster had also damaged the clean water supply network and disrupted access along the main Banda Aceh-Medan road, prompting emergency teams to carry out evacuations, distribute food assistance and repair damaged embankments.
Elsewhere in Aceh, flash floods struck Gayo Lues Regency following heavy rainfall between Saturday afternoon and early Sunday, affecting 390 people from 126 households across three villages.
The floods, which carried logs and thick mud into residential areas, swept away four houses and damaged another 111, while 26 people sought shelter with relatives. Two suspension bridges and several public facilities were also damaged.
Meanwhile, Berton said a tornado also struck Sumbawa Regency in West Nusa Tenggara province on Monday, affecting 23 households and damaging 23 houses across six villages in three districts.
"The local disaster management agency continues to collect data and monitor developments following the disaster,” he said. - Bernama
