Floods and landslides have hit 11 districts in Indonesia lately, a spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said here on Tuesday. "Although we are currently entering the transition period from rainy season to dry season, several Indonesian regions are still experiencing floods and landslides," ANTARA quoted BNPB Head Sutopo Purwo Nugroho as saying here on Tuesday. The agency has set up emergency command posts and public kitchens. It has also distributed relief aid for flood and landslide victims. Rescue operation has been carried out by the agency with the assistance of military and police personnel as well as the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI)'s volunteers. The affected sub districts are Bandung and Garut in West Java Province; Bojonegoro, Madiun, Tuban, Sampang, and Pasuruan in East Java; North Mamuju in West Sulawesi; Mentawai Islands in West Sumatra; Pandeglang in Banten; and several districts in Aceh Province. The floods were triggered by incessant heavy rains from Saturday to Monday. An old woman died after being swept away by Jabon River current in Tuban. In Soko and Parengan, around 450 houses were inundated as Bengawan Solo River overflowed. In Madiun, more than 500 houses flooded. Some 12,314 families consisting of 47,579 people were affected by floods in 10 sub districts or 108 villages in West Aceh District. In Bandung District, floodwaters reaching a height of between 50 cm and two meters, submerged Baleendah, Bojongsoang, Dayeuhkolot, Majalaya, Katapang, Cangkuang, and Banjaran. The floods forced 945 families comprising 3,550 people to take refuge to higher grounds. In Pandeglang, floods inundated 1,400 houses while landslides buried 12 houses and destroyed two bridges in Labuan, Patia, Mandalawangi, and Teluk Sub Districts.
