ĦĦĦĦJAKARTA, February 7 (Xinhuanet) -- Disastrous floods
and landslides continued to devastate cities across Java Island and other parts
in Indonesia, bringing the death toll to 124 and destroying around 120,000
hectares of rice fields, according to the Jakarta Post Thursday.
ĦĦĦĦThe resort island of Bali, Nusa Tenggara islands and some partsof Java
island have been swept by Cyclone Chris producing high waves and turbulent
weather conditions.
ĦĦĦĦAt least 76 persons have been killed since floods and landslides hit East
Java province late last month. At least 42 deaths were recorded in Bondowoso
regency, about 210 kilometers east of the provincial capital of Surabaya, 12 in
the neighboring town of Situbondo, 14 in Sampang in Madura island, and other
areas.
ĦĦĦĦLandslides and floods have killed at least 15 villagers in Bali.
ĦĦĦĦIn Jakarta alone, devastating floods have claimed at least 33 lives and
left five people missing.
ĦĦĦĦOfficials in Jakarta were quoted as saying that the widespread floods in
the country had destroyed more than 120,000 hectares of rice fields and ruined
almost 300,000 tons of unhusked rice.
ĦĦĦĦ"As of Wednesday, at least 120,991 hectares of paddy fields in seven main
rice producing provinces have been inundated by floods," said Sarsito Wahono, a
senior official at the agriculture ministry.
ĦĦĦĦHowever, Minister of Agriculture Bungaran Saragih said the floods would not
significantly cut the country's food production.
ĦĦĦĦRising water also affected plantation crops, with cocoa in Sulawesi island
and rubber in Sumatra island the worst hit.
ĦĦĦĦApart from the widespread floods, threats of danger from Cyclone Chris
haunted people, particularly fishermen, and ships off the eastern parts of the
country.
ĦĦĦĦIn Banjarmasin, capital of South Kalimantan province, two motorboats
capsized on Sunday and their 12 crew members are still missing amid storms.
However, local Navy personnel suspended the search for the victims due to bad
weather conditions on Wednesday.
ĦĦĦĦThe paper said that the calamities forced local authorities to prepare
emergency measures nationwide as further flooding is likely to plague many
regions across Indonesia, which could cause much worst devastation. Enditem
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