Floods force thousands to evacuate in Papua

Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - Massive floods triggered by torrential
rains in the Papuan district of Yapen Waropen on Saturday swept some 27
houses and two bridges into the sea and forced thousands of people in
the district town of Serui to evacuate.

Contacted by phone here on Monday, Yapen Waropen Police Chief Adjunct
Senior Commissioner Imam Setiawan said at least 1,211 families had been
evacuated and visited by district head Soleman Daud Betawi, along with
several other district administration officials.

He said there had been no report of fatalities so far, but logistics
could not be transported to the flood-hit areas as two bridges in
Matembu village were snapped.

Two bridges and 27 houses in Matembu village were swept away into the
sea by the flood waters which also inundated dozens of other houses in
Angkaisera and Anatorei villages.

Imam Setiawan said the flood disaster in Yapen Waropen was the biggest
and the first of its kind due in part to massive irresponsible illegal
loggings and sand mining activities in the district.

He added that the flood victims whose houses were destroyed were in
desperate need of logistics and makeshift shelters from the local
government.(*) END