Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara (ANTARA News) - Flash floods hit five districts on Timor Island, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, following heavy rains over the past one week, a local official said.

The floods swept away 47 houses and damaged around 126 others, Tini Thadeus, the head of NTT`s disaster mitigation agency, said here on Tuesday.

"The five flood-affected districts on Timor Island are Kupang, South Timor Tengah, North Timor Tengah, Belu and Malaka," Tini Thadeus added.

The floods submerged a number of houses and roads as well as paralyzed daily activities of local villagers.

The road connecting Nunkolo and Boking villages in South Amantun Sub District was cut off by flood. Flood also triggered a landslide in Kolotopen, also in South Amantun, cutting of the road between Oenlasi and Sunu Villages.

In Malaka District, rains triggered a river to overflow and inundated 36 villages in three sub districts. Thousands of villagers were isolated due to the inundation.

The floods were the worst hitting East Nusa Tenggara, but there was no report of casualties, according to Tini Thadeus.

In 2000, similar flash floods had hit 36 villages on Timor Island and claimed 220 lives.

The local authorities with the help of volunteers are currently distributing relief aid such as instant foods, emergency tents and medicine.

(F001/O001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2013