The floodwaters submerged a total of 3,962 houses in Lebak Districtr, and landslides damaged 51 houses.
Lebak, Banten (ANTARA News) - Floods and landslides triggered by incessant heavy rains over the past few days have killed three residents of Lebak District, Banten Province.

The flood victims were Warsiti, 65, a resident of Talun village, Cibadak sub district; Dadang, 35, of Kujang Sari, Cibeber sub district; and Mustopa, 16, of Sidnangsari, Sajira sub district, Muklis, the head of the Lebak disaster mitigation office, said here, Thursday.

The floodwaters submerged a total of 3,962 houses in Lebak Districtr, and landslides damaged 51 houses.

Fifteen sub districts have been affected by the floods, namely Rangkasbitung, Kalanganyar, Cibadak, Cimarga, Leuwidamar, Banjarsari, Lebak Gedong, Panggarangan, Wanasalam, Gunungkencana, Cilograng, Muncang, Cikulur, Sobang, and Cibeber.

Mukhlis believed that the number of flooded houses would increase as the local authorities are still waiting for more data from the flood-affected locations.

A number of rivers, including Ciujung, Ciberang, Cisimeut, Cilemer, Cilangkahan and Cibinuangeun overflowed their banks on Wednesday following heavy rains overnight.

The floods forced thousands of residents of affected areas to flee to higher ground due to high rainfalls.

The Floods are inundating the Jakarta-Merak, Banten Province, toll road at a height of up to one meter following the overflowing of Ciujung River.

From Km 57 to Km 59, the toll road is flooded at between 80 cm and one meter deep, Rahmatullah, a spokesman of PT Marga Mandala Sakti (MMS) said in Serang, Banten, on Thursday.

Vehicles from Merak toward Jakarta must exit at Ciujung gate and from Jakarta to Merak at Balaraja gate to avoid the flood, he said.

Residential areas located along Ciujung River are also flooded, forcing local inhabitants to evacuate themselves to higher ground at the toll road area.

A number of emergency camps have been set up along Km 57 and Km 58 to accommodate the flood victims. (*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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