Residents Return Home As Bengawan Solo Flood Recedes

Solo, C Java, Jan 7 (ANTARA) - Surakarta Mayor FX Hadi Rudyatmo has stated that the flood, which was caused by the overflow of Bengawan Solo River and affected seven villages in the region, has receded and the residents of those villages are returning home. "However, they have been warned to stay alert. The possibility of another flood is still high, as this is the rainy season," he said here on Monday. "The weather is still bad, and the areas around the headwaters in Wonogiri and Mount Merapi are still covered by thick clouds. If it starts raining, there may be a flood again," Rudyatmo added. There are hundreds of houses in the seven villages affected by the Bengawan Solo flood in Solo. At least 52 houses in Joyontakan village, 41 in Gandekan village, 61 in Jebres village, 148 in Kampung Sewu village, 39 in Pucangsawit village, 223 in Semanggi village and 384 in Sangkrah village were inundated by the flood. The floodwaters had reached a height of between 40cm and 95cm. However, the water has now receded and the residents are returning home to clean up the debris. "They are now working together to clean their houses and public facilities that had been flooded," Rudyatmo said, adding that the refugee tents were still ready for immediate evacuation if the flood hit the region again. The mayor could not estimate the material losses due to the flood. No casualty has been reported so far, although 1,104 families were affected by the disaster.