Flood inundates houses, shrimp ponds in Lampung

The Jakarta Post , Lampung | Thu, 12/25/2008 1:46 PM | National

Three rivers have overflowed, inundated hundreds of residences and damaged shrimp farms in Tanggamus, Lampung Selatan and Lampung Timur regencies in Lampung province Thursday,
tempointeraktif.com reported.

In Tanggamus regency, the overflowing of the Way Semaka river has isolated residents in Karang Anyar village; water has swamped the main roads connecting it to other villages by up to 1.5 meters. Residents said the river had burst its banks because they had not repaired the levees on both sides. Recent heavy downpours cause the rivers to swell and overrun the insufficiently reinforced embankments.

Resident Ali Mubin estimated Thursday the flooding meant losses of Rp 60 million (US$5,454) from damage to his shrimp ponds.

In Lampung Selatan and Lampung Timur regencies, flooding along the Way Sekampung and Way Gelam rivers has lasted about a week so far, submerging thousands of hectares planted with padi, corn and oil palms.

Kohar Muhammad, chair of the Asahan village council in Lampung Timur, said the regional administration had yet to offer any assistance to farmers suffering losses due to damaged fields. (ewd)