LANDSLIDE ISOLATES FIVE VILLAGES IN E NUSA TENGGARA

Kupang, Feb 11 (ANTARA) - Five villages in Ende, East Nusa Tenggara province, became inaccessible by over land transport on Thursday because a landlside had cut off the road leading to their area.
Three of the five affected villages - Tendambepa, Watumite and Tendaondo - were located in Nangapanda subdistrict and the other two -Kabumuke and Muningasa - in Maukaro subdistrict.

Nangapanda subdistrict chief Aleks Raki said incessant rains had fallen on the area hours before the landslide took place. The landslide had covered a stretch of the only road leading to the five villages.

He said the local people had been warned about the possibility of more landslides happening because incessant rains were expected to fall in the area up till Sunday (Feb 14).

According to Raki, more landslides could happen at three locations near the one that had occurred not far from Tendarea village.

"We have strongly advised people not to pass through the landslide prone locations for their own safety," he added.

Thursday's rains had also caused floods in several villages in East Nusa Tenggara such as Ondorea Barat and Watumite.