AlHijjah 3, 1434, Oct 8, 2013, SPA -- Floods affected 4,249 houses in the sub-districts of Stabat, Batang Serangan, Secanggang, Wampu, and Padang Tualang in Langkat District, North Sumatra. "Some 4,249 houses have been inundated since the past three days," Agussalam, an official of the Langkat disaster mitigation agency, said here on Tuesday. Floodwaters reaching a height of up to one meter submerged 2,106 houses in Stabat, 910 in Batang Serangan, 547 in Padang Tualang, 431 in Secanggang, and 155 in Wampu. Thousands schools were also flooded, forcing students to stay at home until the floods subsided, ANTARA reported. Meanwhile, it was reported earlier that floods, up to one-metre deep, affected 710 houses at Sei Bamban and Batang Serangan villages in Langkat District, North Sumatra, until Monday morning. "As many as 710 houses have been submerged due to the flood waters," said spokesperson for the Langkat District Disaster Mitigation Board Agussalim on Monday. The area became flooded on Sunday, and 910 houses at Karya Jadi, Sei Bamban and Batang Serangan villages were affected. However, the number of flooded houses decreased to 710 on Monday morning, he said. Many residents of worst-hit Sei Bamban and Batang Serangan villages were seen taking refuge on Monday morning, he added. "Two hundred families at Karya Jadi village have returned home to clean their houses," he said. Ramlan Lubis, chief of the Batang Serangan village, said the one-metre deep flood waters have submerged some of the houses in the village. Many residents, who fled the villages, have returned home, he said, adding that they should stay alert as heavy rains may cause a local river to overflow.
