The water level is estimated at five to 5.15 meter high, down from initially 20 centimeter higher."
Nunukan, North Kalimantan (ANTARA News) - Thousands of houses in the sub-district of Sembakung, Nunukan, North Kalimantan, have been inundated by flood water coming from neighboring Malaysia, Sub-district Head of Sembakung Iskandar said here on Sunday.

He said 13 out of 20 villages in the sub-district have been submerged because of the flood water as well as high rainfall in the past few days with as many as 8,500 families being affected.

He said the flood water reached the floor of the peoples houses in the villages which are mostly traditional platform houses.

"The water level is estimated at five to 5.15 meter high, down from initially 20 centimeter higher," he said when contacted by phone for information about the flooding.

He said 80 percent of 11,000 houses and public facilities in the sub-district were still under water.

He said the 13 villages which were inundated after heavy rainfall in Pensiangan, Sabah, Malaysia, are located along Sembakung river with its upstream located in the Malaysian region.

Due to the flooding school and office activities have stopped since Wednesday.

Iskandar predicted the flood would recede in the next two weeks if rainfall in Malaysia would be high.

(Reporting by M. Rusman/Uu.H-YH/F001)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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