Cuddalore takes a lead in tsunami reconstruction - NIDM
Cuddalore takes a lead in tsunami reconstruction - NIDM
Cuddalore takes a lead in tsunami reconstruction - NIDM
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Reuters<br />
Jakarta, December 25, 2006<br />
Floods and landslides <strong>in</strong> Indonesia's Aceh and North Sumatra prov<strong>in</strong>ces have killed at<br />
least 80 people and forced tens of thousands to flee to higher ground, authorities <strong>in</strong> the<br />
region said on Monday.<br />
Aceh, still feel<strong>in</strong>g the devastat<strong>in</strong>g effects of the 2004 <strong>tsunami</strong>, was hardest hit. Ridwan<br />
Sulaiman, head of social affairs <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce, said the death toll was now 42, although<br />
the figure could go higher as rescuers reach more remote villages.<br />
Authorities said an estimated 42,000 residents had been driven from their homes by the<br />
floodwaters.<br />
Most of the damage was <strong>in</strong> Aceh's Tamiang district, on the northern tip of Sumatra<br />
island.<br />
Floods killed 17 people, with almost 50,000 made homeless, <strong>in</strong> neighbor<strong>in</strong>g North<br />
Sumatra prov<strong>in</strong>ce, officials said.<br />
Landslides triggered by the ra<strong>in</strong>s killed another 21 <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce's Muarasipongi district,<br />
Hashim Nasution, deputy mayor of Mandail<strong>in</strong>g Natal, North Sumatra, told Elsh<strong>in</strong>ta radio.<br />
Nasution said local residents had just returned to their homes after flee<strong>in</strong>g last week's<br />
earthquake.<br />
"We are still try<strong>in</strong>g to locate more people. We received a report that at least four people<br />
are still miss<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the area," he said.<br />
Authorities have blamed heavy ra<strong>in</strong>s as well as the effects of deforestation for the<br />
destruction.<br />
Lack of adequate forest cover leaves the ground less able to absorb excess water.<br />
Sulaiman said some of the waters <strong>in</strong> Aceh had begun to recede, leav<strong>in</strong>g beh<strong>in</strong>d thick<br />
mud that complicated rescue and aid efforts.<br />
The Bener Meriah regency was cut off and authorities were await<strong>in</strong>g a helicopter to<br />
survey the damage, he said.<br />
He said the government and aid organizations had sufficient supplies of food, tents and<br />
medic<strong>in</strong>e but transport capable of reach<strong>in</strong>g remote areas rema<strong>in</strong>ed a problem.<br />
Almost exactly two years ago, on December 26, 2004, Aceh was hit by the Indian Ocean<br />
<strong>tsunami</strong>, which left some 170,000 dead or miss<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> the prov<strong>in</strong>ce.<br />
Asian nations remember those killed <strong>in</strong> <strong>tsunami</strong><br />
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