The floodwaters at Tanjung Alam and Air Hitam villages were quite high. When we checked (the villages) we found floodwater and mud inundating many houses. Mud and other materials also covered roads
Bengkulu (ANTARA) - Military and police personnel have been deployed to flood-hit areas in Kepahiang district, Bengkulu province, to assist flood victims.

The flood hit hardest were Air Hitam and Tanjung Alam villages in the district Chief of the Kepahiang Police Resort, Adjunct Senior Commissioner Pahala Simanjuntak, said on Saturday while inspecting a flood-hit area in Ujan Mas sub-district with Commander of the 0409/Rejang Lebong Military District Lieutenant Colonel Budi Wirman.

"The floodwaters at Tanjung Alam and Air Hitam villages were quite high. When we checked (the villages) we found floodwaters and mud inundating many houses. Mud and other materials also covered roads," he said.

Simanjuntak said the police have established coordination with the Regional Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD), the Health Office, and emergency response unit Tagana, in setting up health command posts and public kitchens.

He also said his agency is trying to bring heavy equipment to the two villages to remove mud and other materials from flooded houses.

Incessant rains caused several rivers in Bengkulu province to overflow their banks on Friday night, flooding several parts of the province.

"The flood hit almost all districts and cities. I call on the rank and file of the district and city governments to act. The first thing to do is to rescue the affected people," Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah said here on Saturday.

The flood also caused landslides in several parts of the district, cutting off land communications among districts in Bengkulu and between the province and other provinces, including South Sumatra and Lampung.

All rescue workers have been deployed to help the evacuation of residents and minimize the impact of floods and landslides, particularly on vital roads, he said.

Chief of the Bengkulu Provincial Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) Rusdi Bakar said there was no immediate report of casualties caused by the flood and landslide.

Translator: Nur Muhamad, Suharto
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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