Pekanbaru, Riau, Feb 11 (Antarariau.com) - Floods in Kampar District, Riau Province, led to the deaths of two local inhabitants as one person was swept away while another drowned in the floodwaters, Santoso, the Kampar disaster mitigation office head, stated here on Thursday.
Floodwaters, reaching a height of up to 1.7 meters, have inundated 56 villages in 12 sub-districts of Kampar District.
Over 133 thousand people, or 26,614 families, have been affected by the floods in Kampar.
"This is the worst that has ever been experienced since 1980. Therefore, the Kampar district head has declared a flood emergency response status," he pointed out.
The disaster mitigation agency has set up emergency tents and 25 flood command posts to help the flood victims.
The emergency tents have accommodated some two thousand flood victims, and some others have sought refuge in school and government office buildings.
"We are lacking necessary equipment to reach out to the flood victims as there are only three rubber boats, and one of them has a leak," he added.
Head of the Riau Disaster Mitigation Office (BPBD) Edward Sanger noted that the Riau provincial authorities have declared an alert status, and three districts declared flood emergency response status as the precipitation will remain high in the province until mid-March.
The three districts are Kampar, Rokan Hulu, and Kuantan Singingi.
The Riau BPBD has disbursed relief aid worth Rp500 million to Kampar and Rokan Hulu.
In Rokan Hulu, seven sub-districts were flooded, 11,438 people were affected, and three bridges --- Sei Pisang Kolek, Sei Omang, and Sei Boncah Ketapang --- collapsed.
Riau Floods Led to The Deaths of Two Local Inhabitants
