FLOOD KILLS 15 IN NORTH SUMATRA

Medan, Sept 15 (ANTARA) - Fifteen villagers in Muara Batang Gadis, Mandailing Natal, North Sumatra were killed after a flood swept the region early on Tuesday while 25 others were reported missing.

North Sumatra Governor H Syamsul Arifin said he had received a report from the Mandailing Natal district administration that 15 people were found dead after the flood.

"Fifteen people have been killed while 25 others are still missing," he said.

He said he had already ordered the head of the province's disaster control agency to take emergency measures to deal with the incident.

"We will help as much as we can while the district head has to take 50 tons of rice from the local logistics agency depot to help the victims," he said.

The flash flood came at around 2am and was reported rising as high as two meters in six villages in Muara Batang Gadis after Sulang Aling river overflowed.

The six villages are located along the Sulang Aling river which is the tributary of Batang Gadis river, the biggest river in Mandailing Natal.

Governor Syamsul Arifin said he had also ordered the search and rescue team in Medan to immediately come to Mandailing Natal
to give help including finding those who were missing.

"We have also ordered the regional office of social service to provide food aid as well as blankets and tents and the healh service to medical aid for the evacuees," he said.

The governor admitted that it was not easy to reach the location which was in the western coastal region, adding it would take around nine hours to go to Mandailing from Penyabungan.

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