Hundreds Of Inland East Aceh Residents Fled Due To Floods

Residents evacuate by boat (Photo via ANTARA)

BANDA ACEH - Hundreds of rural residents from a number of gampong or villages in two sub-districts in East Aceh District fled after their houses were flooded.

Head of the East Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) Ashadi said the number of refugees due to the flood reached 300.

"The floods occurred due to the overflowing of a number of rivers following heavy rains in the interior of Aceh. The height of the floods which inundated people's houses reached one meter," said Ashadi as quoted by Antara, Wednesday, January 20.

Ashadi said that there were also points of refugees occurring in Birem Bayeun Subdistrict, covering the Village of Alur Nyamuk Village with 45 refugees, Gampong Paya Bili Satu up to 40 refugees.

Then the refugees in Simpang Jernih Subdistrict consisted of 120 people in Gampong Pante Kera and in Rantau Panjang District there were 95 people who had to flee.

"Refugees in two villages in other hinterlands such as Gampong Paya Bili Dua and Gampong Batu Sumbang are still being collected," said Ashadi.

As for the refugees in Simpang Jernih, said Ashadi, his party had asked the sub-district to immediately provide logistics and public kitchens for the flood-affected communities.

"The task force team continues to monitor the development of flooding in the interior of East Aceh. We also remind the public to be vigilant, especially since the flood conditions continue to spread," said Ashadi.