E KALIMANTAN'S FLOOD DISPLACES 1,287 FAMILIES

Samarinda, E Kalimantan, April 2 (ANTARA) - A flood had forced 1,287 families in Loa Ipuh village, Tenggarong sub-district, East Kalimatan regency of Kutai Kartanegara, to evacuate to higher ground since Thursday.

"We were still counting the number of the inundated houses to arrive at the number of flood victims," Head of the regency's natural disaster management unit, Herlambang, said here Friday.

In assisting the displaced residents, tens of rescue workers equipped with rubber boats were deployed to the flooded zone, he said.

Since Thursday evening, hundreds of people had taken refuge because they feared the flood waters will grow higher, although many others stayed at their homes, he said.

Herlambang said the flood might be caused by rainfall and the breaking down of several brick-making factories' water reservoirs in the Tenggarong sub-district.

Next week, local authorities would call the managements of such brick-making companies as PT.Tanito Harun, PT Multi Harapan Utama, and PT. Alaswatu to ask about the causes of the floods," he said.

Meanwhile, a local community leader, Tomo, said the flood had inundated 90 of the 134 houses in his area.

Tomo said this week's flood was the worst over the past few years because the routine flood was just caused by the overflowing of Tenggarong River but the condition was not as bad as this.

So far, the flood had just killed a toddler named Mika Marsiha (3.5 years).

Her body was found floating beside her flooded house in Loa Ipuh village at 03.30 pm local time by her father, M.Hatta.

"I myself found her floating on the flood water," he said, adding that he had been sleeping beside his daughter but when he woke up at 03.00 am she had was gone.

"Then I looked for her around the house and found her floating beside the house," said Hatta who was shocked by his daughter's death.

Some flood victims said they ran out of food supply, so they hoped the local government would soon send them relief aid.