Gorontalo (ANTARA News)- Floods that hit the sub-districts of Tilamuta, Dulupi Wonosari and Botumoito in Boalemo District, Gorontalo Province, have submerged thousands of home and affected 4,987 local inhabitants.

The nearly five thousand flood victims were inhabitants of nine villages, Fathlina Podungge, head of the Boalemo disaster mitigation office, said here, Monday.

The flooding triggered by incessant heavy rain and the overflowing of Ayuhulalo River, destroyed two dykes and damaged several homes, he added.

"In West Pentadu village, 161 people are affected, in Mohungo village 1,245 people, in Piloliyanga 630 people, in Ayuhulalo 967 people, in Lamu 750 people, in Limbato 161 people, in Hungayonaa 157 people, in Potanga 557 people, and in Dulupi 1,152 people," he said.

The number of flood victims taking refuge in higher grounds was 97 people in Dulupi, seven in Mohungo, and 12 in Hungayonaa.

The local authorities have distributed food and helped evacuation efforts.

Earlier, the Indonesian Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned of possible flooding as the country is currently in the peak rainy season until February.

Flash floods believed to be the worst in the last decade affected 106 villages in 61 sub-districts in 13 districts and cities in South Sulawesi Province, last week.

The death toll from floods, landslides and whirlwinds, which engulfed South Sulawesi rose to 68 as of Sunday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"By January 27, 2019, 188 villages in 71 sub-districts were affected by the disaster which left 68 people dead, 7 people missing and 47 people injured and forced 6,737 others to take refuge," Chief of BNPB Data and Information Center and Public Relations Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a press statement released in Jakarta, on Sunday.

Reporting by Adiwinata Solihin, fardah

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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