FLASH FLOOD HITS PADANGPARIAMAN, W SUMATRA

Padangpariaman, Sept 23 (ANTARA) - A flash flood inundated tens of houses in Korong Mandahiliang town, Batang Gasan sub district, Padangpariaman District, West Sumatra Province, Wednesday evening.

The floodwaters had even reached a height of an adult's chest earlier, Korong Mandahiliang Mayor Azimir said Thursday.

The flash flood, which carried mud, was caused by nonfunctional condition of irrigation canal on Batang Gasang river.

A number of local people were forced to evacuate themselves to higher ground due to the flooding.

Irham, a flood victim, said he did not have a chance to save his belonging to safer places when the flood occurred.

His electronic goods such as television and refrigerator were covered by mud carried by the flood.

He recalled that a similar flood which had occurred four years ago, had claimed one live, injured another and destroyed four houses.

Meanwhile, flood caused minor damage to 24 houses at Bambu village in West Sulawesi province on Wednesday (Sept 22), prompting tens of people to evacuate to safer ground.

The houses were located along the Bone-Bone river which overflowed following incessant rains overnight. No fatalities or injuries were reported in the flood.

"Residents did not think the flood from the upper reaches of Bone-Bone river came by all sudden," spokesman for the West Sulawesi provincial administration Sulaiman said.

Head of the disaster section at the West Sulawesi provincial social service Amri said the local authorities had sent blankets and mats to the evacuees. *