FLASH FLOODS HIT THREE DISTRICTS IN ACEH

Banda Aceh, Oct. 20 (ANTARA) - Flash floods have been hitting West Aceh, Aceh Besar and Aceh Jaya districts, Aceh province, since Saturday, forcing hundreds of people to flee to higher ground.

Rain fell continuously on Monday causing the flooding to spread over a wider and wider area, Mursalin, a spokesman of the Aceh provincial administration, said here on Monday.
At least 250 families in a number of villages in Mereubo sub district, West Aceh district, had evacuated themselves since Sunday (Oct. 19) to safer areas as several rivers overflowed.
"Yesterday (Oct. 19), the flood waters subsided, but they have now risen again following heavy rains from Sunday evening until Monday," Mursalin said.
A number of villages in Aceh Besar district and Banda Aceh were also reportedly inundated following downpours over the past few days.
More than 10,000 houses in Aceh Jaya district were also stood in flood waters.
Muhammad Adan (35), an Aceh Jaya resident, said the flooding started on Sunday following incessant heavy rains over the past three days.
Residents of the worst-hit village of Pantee Purba/Ligan Sampoiniet, fled their homes to Gunung Tinggi village after the Krueng Ligan River overflowed.
"The flooding continues to expand as heavy rains continued to fall on Monday," Muhammad Adan said.
Other villages hit by the floods in Aceh Jaya District include Suak Beukah, Patek Lama, Alue Groe and Setia Bakti subdistrict.
However, there were no reports of casualties in the disaster.