Floods Inundate 450 Hectares Of Rice Fields In Tanjungpura

Langkat, North Sumatra, Oct 22 (Antara) - Floods hit four villages in Tanjungpura Sub-district, Langkat District, North Sumatra, submerging 450 hectares of rice fields. The floods were triggered by the overflowing of Batang Serangan River following an incessant downpour of rain that fell on Monday, Miswandi, coordinator of agricultural pest monitoring, said. Of the 450-hectare flood-affected rice fields, 80 hectares are located in Pekubuan, 180 hectares in Suka Maju, 70 hectares in Pantai Cermin, and 120 hectares in Karya Maju. "Agricultural officers are currently collecting data in other villages, which are also flooded," he stated. "This time, the floods have expanded to a very large area," Miswandi noted, adding that the floods have most likely affected oil palm, rubber, and other plantations as well. According to Tanjungpura Sub-district Head Surianto, floodwaters reaching a height of up to 60 centimeters submerged 12 villages in Tanjungpura Sub-district, Lankgat District: Pematang Cengal Barat, Pematang Cengal, Karya Maju, Pantai Cermin, Lalang, Pekubuan, Pematang Serai, Pekan Tanjungpura, Baja Kuning, Paya Perupuk, Pulau Banyak, and Teluk Bakung. Of these villages, Pematang Cengal, Pematang Cengal Barat, and Karya Maju were the worst hit, he noted. Most of the villagers had been evacuated to safer areas. A total of 3,914 houses were flooded across the 12 villages. The local authorities set up health posts and emergency tents for those affected by the flood. Relief aid, comprising about six tons of rice and 320 boxes of instant noodles, was distributed among the flood victims. Meanwhile, some 1.5 thousand houses were inundated in Tebing Tinggi town, North Sumatra Province, after the Padang and Bahilang rivers overflowed on Saturday. The floods affected four sub-districts: Bajenis, Tebing Tinggi, Rambutan, and Padang Hulu, confirmed Wahid Sitorus, the Head of the Tebing Tinggi disaster mitigation agency. About six thousand people were forced to move to higher ground, he stated.