Medan Mayor Rahudman Harahap received the aid from the minister at Polonia Airport, Medan, where the minister was making a transit on his way to Aceh, on the northern tip of Sumatra Island.
Minister Agung praised the Medan city administration for its quick response in handling the disaster by evacuating the victims to safer areas.
Mayor Rahudman told the minister that the floods were triggered by deforestation and silting of rivers.
The minister planned to send an assessment team to check the cause of the floods and the damages inflected by the natural disaster.
The assessment was necessary to see what steps should be taken in the future, such the building of dams, or river dredging, according to Agung.
The ministers blamed the floods on irresponsible people who have ignored the environmental preservation.
Deforestation and improper waste dumping have often caused floods, the minister said.
Minister Agung also urged people living near the river banks to move to safer areas. He asked the Medan mayor to find new locations for them or build modest apartments from them.
Floods triggered by incessant heavy rains since Thursday (March 31), have inundated thousands of houses in Medan.
Of the total 21 sub districts in Medan, seven are flooded, Khairul Buhari, a spokesman of the Medan administration, said.
The flood-affected sub districts are Medan Tuntungan, Medan Selayang, Medan Polonia, Medan Baru, Medan Petisah, Medan Johor, and Medan Maimun.
"There are no report of casualties in the disaster," he said.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
