GOVT SENDS AID SUPPLIES TO MANDAILING NATAL

Jakarta, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - The central government has sent supplies and a team to measure the amount of aid to be given to flood victims in Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra.

"The team from the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Agency for Disaster Control (BNPB) has been sent there carrying initial cash aid funds of Rp250 million," BNPB chief Syamsul Maarif said here on Tuesday.

He said the team would visit the scene of the disaster, measure the need for aid for the victims and extend aid if the local administration was not able to overcome the problem by itself.

"Until now the conditions are still under control. The evacuees can also be dealt with by the regional administration," he said.

On a separate occasion, the head of the health ministry's public communications, Rustam S Pakaya, said a heatlh team had also been sent there to help the victims.

"The team is already heading there. A team from the Medan regional crisis control center has also gone to the location carrying bags for dead bodies, milk and medical supplies," he said, adding it would take eight hours to reach the place.

Until Tuesday evening the flood that swept six villages in Muara Batang Gadis had left 15 people dead while 25 other were still missing and 200 families evacuated.