Syofiardi Bachyul Jb, The Jakarta Post, Padang | Sun, 11/09/2008 11:04 AM
Two people were killed with four others missing when a flash flood stormed Jorong Toboh and Jorong Sasai Kandang villages in Agam regency, West Sumatra, on Friday evening.
The flash flood inundated an area of 500 hectares with mud some 3 meters thick. The mud deposit now stretches 200 to 300 meters along the 20-meter wide Baburai River.
Seven houses on the riverbanks were struck by the flash flood, two of which were buried by mud, three heavily damaged and two others lightly damaged.
Rescue workers Saturday found the bodies of Nida, 45, and Mediana Saprina, 13. They were still searching for Sahrul Syafar, 9, Nadisyam, 55, Asnimar, 60, and Darius Sutan Makmur, 70.
"The residents were trapped inside their houses and unable to flee," coordinator of the West Sumatra Disaster Mitigation Coordinating Board, Ade Edward, told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
"Rescue workers could retrieve the two bodies as their hands and legs were not buried.
Two villagers wounded in the flood were sent to the Ahmad Mochtar General Hospital in Bukittinggi municipality, some 40 kilometers from the flash flood location.
It was reported that the river overflowed, causing the flash flood -- which is called galodo in the local Minangkabau language -- after three hours of incessant rain.
The flash flood also damaged three bridges isolating 300 families in Jorong Toboh from the district administrative center.
Some 400 hectares of rice fields were buried by mud, and six cows went missing.
"Currently, rescue workers are cleaning the mud deposit with two heavy machines," said Ade from the location.
"Hopefully we can reach Jorong Toboh in the evening to supply villagers with food, medicine and blankets.
"But the river stream is still strong and the soil is soft, so residents have not yet crossed the river," Ade said.
"Incessant rain caused mud from river walls to be deposited downstream.
"When the mud broke away, water carried the mud that overflowed, striking houses and bridges."
Agam Regent Aristo Munanda told the Post that the regency administration had distributed clothes, medicines and other necessities since Saturday morning.
"Rescue workers including police officers and soldiers reached the location right after the flash flood," he said.
"But evacuation efforts were hampered by darkness as the electricity was cut."
The Agam regency administration have relocated 200 villagers residing on the river banks to the nearest village in anticipation of other flash floods as dark clouds were still hanging over the area.
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