WASIOR RECONSTRUCTION COSTS RP370 BLN

Jakarta, Nov 24 (ANTARA) - The reconstruction and rehabilitation of flash flood-devastated Wasior town in West Papua province will cost the government an estimated Rp370.353 billion, a minister said.

The flash flood that swept the town early last month inflicted Rp280.584 billion in material losses, Minister of National Development Planning/Head of the National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) Armida S. Alisjahbana said at a working meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission VIII on Wednesday.

She said during the reconstruction process not all the victims of the flash flood could live again in their original residence as some of them would be relocated on 1,500 hectares of land about 56 km south of Wasior.

The reconstruction project would be started early 2011 shortly after the emergency response period ended, she said.

She said the authorities would begin relocating the flash flood victims to the new area in 2012.

The flash flood which swept the town early last month killed at least 124 people, and left 123 others missing.

The town was covered with mud, logs and rocks following the flood and badly needs heavy-duty equipment for evacuation and cleaning operations.

The flood also injured at least 853 people and forced 4,625 others to move to safer places.