FLASH FLOODS HIT SIX DISTRICTS IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, Nov 18 (ANTARA) - Flash floods, triggered by two days of torrential rain since Monday, have inundated or damaged thousands of houses in six districts in Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam (NAD) province.

Aceh provincial social service office spokesman Bukhari said here on Tuesday the six districts inundated by the floods were Southeast Aceh, Singkil, Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, Nagan Raya, and South Aceh.
He said the flood waters started to inundate thousands of houses in the six districts on Monday after several rivers there overflowed their banks.
Three months ago, three districts, namely Aceh Jaya, West Aceh, and Nagan Raya on the west coast of the province were inundated by flash floods which were triggered by days of torrential rains.
Hundreds of people were then forced to abandon their homes but luckily there was no fatality in the flood disaster.
"We always remind the people in flood prone areas to remain alert in every rainy season," Bukhari said.
Meanwhile, Blang Bintang Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMG) spokesman in Aceh Besar, Syamsuir, said part of Aceh province in the next few year would be hit by heavy rains, and therefore the local people should remain alert.
"We will continue to monitor the latest development of floods in the six districts for possible evacuation of flood victims if necessary," Syamsuir said.
Asked about basic necessaries in those districts if the local residents were evacuated, Syamsuir said there was no problem because the region had enough rice in stock.