Jakarta (ANTARA News) - New waves of flooding has forced thousands of Indonesians to leave homes to suffer in refugee camps again.

The flooding came after many evacuees had just returned home to clean their houses of rubbish and mud left by earlier flooding.

Rain triggered floods and landslides have hit various areas in the country from last month until early this month, leaving scores of people dead.

The National Disaster Control Agency (BNPB) said the new flooding came after most people believed the worst had been over.

BNPB spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said heavy rains until night on Saturday had caused new flooding in various areas in the country.

In Banten, thousands of houses are inundated by flood water after heavy rains, forcing people to flee their houses, Sutopo said here on Sunday.

The hardest hit in Banten are Karawaci, and Nambo Jaya/Perum Pondok Arum, where the flood water is as deep as 150-175 cm, he said.

In the sub-district of Cileduk including Ciledug Indah 1 and 2 the water was as deep as 70-100 cm, and in the sub-district of Cibodas, Panunggan Barat, it was 100-150 cm deep.

The city of Tangerang Selatan was also hit by flooding.

Sutopo said the disaster agency is busy evacuating people to safe areas, preparing food, medicines, clean water, mattresses and blankets.

The military and police help in the evacuation process.

Sutopo said Jakarta and Bekasi do not fare better, adding a dyke in Bekasi collapsed sending flood water rolling to Pondok Gede Permai housing complex and nearby areas.

Flooding was also reported in the upstream area of Bengawan Solo, the biggest and longest river in Java.

(AS/S012)
(T.SYS/B/H-ASG/S012)

Editor: Aditia Maruli Radja
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