Floods in parts of East Java, Indonesia, have forced at least 500 people to evacuate their homes. Meanwhile in North Aceh, the floods that affected 12 districts have started to recede.
Elsewhere in Indonesia, heavy rainfall has increased levels of the Batang Hari River in Jambi Province, prompting local disaster officials to issue flood warnings and make preparations for evacuations.
East Java
At least 2 villages were flooded in the district of Sutojayan in Blitar Regency in East Java on 18 January 2016 after a local river overflowed.
Flooding caused damage to homes and roads in the area. The local disaster emergency authority, BPBD Kabupaten Blitar, carried out the evacuation of around 500 people from the villages of Gondanglegi and Blimbing.
Flood water reached waist height along the roads of the two villages. BPBD said that the evacuations were hampered by flood water along narrow access roads in the area. Some residents chose to remain in their homes.
In their latest update of 19 January, the local BPBD said that the flood waters were continuing to rise. Moderate to heavy rain is expected in the region over the next few days.
North Aceh
The 1,505 people displaced by flooding in North Aceh have been able to return home, according to Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Authority (BNPB).
Several days of heavy rain increased levels of the Pase and Keureten Rivers, causing flooding in 12 districts in North Aceh Regcency during the early hours of Sunday morning, 17 January 2016.
The communities displaced were from the districts of Mantangkuli, Tanah Luas, Samudera, Geurudong Pase, Muara Batu, Sawang, Pirak Timu, Lhoksukon, Nisam, Paya Bakong, Kuta Makmur and Banda Baro.
Flood water that was up to 200 cm deep in some areas has since receded.
According to the North Aceh Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), the floods damaged several sluice gates and almost 300 m of dikes in 2 areas of Mantangkuli district. Irrigation canals and rover embankments have also been damaged. Further damage assessments are still being carried out.
Further Rainfall in Sumatra
Although the flooding has receded in North Aceh districts, more heavy rain has since fallen in the region.
In 24 hours between 18 and 19 January, 85 mm of rain fell in Sibolga and 51 mm in Gunungsitoli, both in North Sumatra.
In Padang, West Sumatra province, 58 mm of rain was recorded in 24 hours between 19 and 20 January 2016.
Jambi Province
Local media are reporting that the Batang Hari River has overflowed in some areas of Jambi is a province.
The affected districts include Bungo, Batang, Muarojambi and Jambi city, where river levels rose 30cm in 24 hours between 19 and 20 January 2016. Flooding so far is minor and no fatalities of evacuations have been reported. However, the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) for Jambi have issued flood warnings and have made preparations in anticipation of evacuations.
Some flooding has also been reported in Empat Lawang Regency in South Sumatra Province. As yet the flooding has caused only minor problems and no evacuations have been reported.
