Lebak (ANTARA News) - Three sub-districts in Lebak regency, Banten, had been inundated following continued rainfall in the past two days causing the overflowing of Cibinuangeun and Ciliman rivers.

Head of the Lebak disaster mitigation office Muklis said the three sub-districts are Banjarsari, Wanasalam and Cijaku.

The residents of the inundated areas had been moved to higher and safer ground it was still raining.

He said the rainfall is very high, and the floods may expand to other villages in the area.

However the flood waters reaching heights of up to four meters, did not cause any fatalities.

"We and volunteers had been evacuating the flood victims," he said.

He said 604 houses in the three sub-districts had been inundated namely 540 in Banjarsari, 40 in Cijaku, and 24 in Wanasalam.

The flood victims had moved to their families and relatives in other areas, including mosques.

"We have already set up flood command posts as the rain was still going on and more floods had been anticipated," he said.

Banjarsari sub-district head Pardi said his inundated area included seven villages like Umbul Jaya, Cikeusik, Bojong Juruh, Tamansari, Laban Jaya, Kerta Jaya and Ciruji.

The floods also inundated hundreds hectares of rice fields.

He did not know as yet the extent of material loss caused by the floods.

"In the meantime the flood victims had already been given food assistance," he said.

In the meantime, Lebak regional administration assistant Tajudin said the local administration had sent 1 ton of rice in addition of other important foodstuffs.

"We have ordered the relevant local administration authorities to set up public kitchens, in anticipation of food shortages," he said.(*)

Editor: Ruslan Burhani
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