Flood Inundate Hundreds Of Houses In North Sumatra

Langkat , N Sumatra , Oct 7 (Antara) - Floods have inundated at least 910 houses in the Batang Serangan sub-district of Langkat District in North Sumatra, following which hundreds of families have been evacuated from the area. "Floods have inundated several residences in the Batang Serangan sub-district," Agussalim, the Head of the Logistics and Emergency Division at the Langkat Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) said on Sunday evening. Agussalim further stated that the heavy rain had triggered the nearby river to overflow and rendered at least 910 families homeless with their residences being buried in over a meter of flood water. Preliminary data revealed that out of the 910 flood-affected families, at least 150 were from the Batangan Serangan village. The flood had also impacted 510 families� residences in the Sei Bamban village and 250 families in the Sukajadi village, Agussalim pointed out. "There are several people who sought refuge in their relatives` houses, which had remained unaffected by the floods," he said. Agusaalim also noted that 150 displaced residents had been moved to the nearest mosque. "The flood has not resulted in any casualties so far. However, many properties could not be saved as the floods were unexpected," he stated. The Langkat BPBD has established a command post in Batang Serangan`s administration office after the floods. The institution has also distributed instant noodles and mineral water to the flood victims in cooperation with the office of the Langkat Social District.