FLOODS INUNDATE 21 VILLAGES IN KARAWANG DISTRICT

Karawang, W Java, March 22 (ANTARA) - Floods inundated 21 villages in seven regions in Karawang district, West Java, on Monday, forcing a few hundred people to take refuge.

Local social welfare authorities said the floods had submerged houses in the sub-districts of Karawang Barat, Karawang Timur Telukjambe Timur, Telukjambe Barat, Ciampel, Batu Jaya and Pakisjaya.

The height of the flood waters tended to keep rising due to the overflowing of the Citarum River. As a result, some tents accommodating displaced people were also inundated.

The refugees, whose tents were flooded, had been moved to higher and safer places, a local resident said.

A local government official, Amin, said the hall of the Tanjungpura village office was chosen by a group of flood victims as their temporary shelter while many others stayed at relatives' houses.

The floods hit the vast areas of Karawang district following a few hours of heavy rainfall over the past two days.

Amin said the flood victims who previously sheltered inside the Karawang Kulon village office were moved to other temporary camps after flood water inundated it.

The torrential rains which have been showering various parts of West Java Province over the past week have triggered floods and landslides in some areas.

On March 20, a landslide hit Cimangu hamlet in Padajaya village, Cikalongkulon sub-district, West Java district of Cianjur, burying four houses.

There were no fatalities in the natural disaster but tens of families rescued themselves to safe places, such as schools and mosques.

The March 20 landslide had reminded people in Cianjur district of the March 11 deadly landslide.

At the time, the landslide that hit Ciawitali hamlet, Sukamekar village, Sukanagara sub-district, Cianjur district, destroyed five houses and killed 10 people.

A survivor, Obih, lost his wife and his ten-year-old daughter.