Tens of Hectares of Rice Fields in Cianjur Submerged by Floods

jpnn.com, CIANJUR - Tens of hectares of rice fields in two districts in Cianjur, West Java, were damaged due to flooding after heavy rains hit the area and broke the irrigation embankment.

Secretary of the Cianjur Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Rudi Wibowo, said heavy rains had caused the irrigation embankment that spanned two districts to collapse, submerging 35 hectares of rice fields, most of which had just been planted and a small portion was to be harvested.

"Not only rice fields, the flood also submerged dozens of residential houses. Fortunately, there were no casualties or injuries due to the flooding that hit Sukaluyu and Karangtengah districts since Sunday (7/11) night," Rudi said when contacted on Monday (8/11).

The BPBD detailed that the flooded rice fields were located in Sindangraja village in Sukaluyu district, covering an area of 10 hectares, as well as Sukasirna village and Ciherang village in Karangtengah district, with an area of 25 hectares heavily damaged by the floods.

"We immediately coordinated with the district and village governments to install iron gabions at the location of the broken embankment, together with residents and assisted by joint members of the Indonesian Military (TNI) and the National Police. This effort is a precautionary measure for further flooding," he said.

The agency also noted that 45 houses in three villages were flooded with the height of an adult's thighs. About 90 households were forced to evacuate. By noon, they returned home.

"We urge residents to remain alert to the disaster and evacuate immediately if they see the water level rising again, before flooding the village. Disaster resilient officers and volunteers are still on standby to monitor and evacuate residents if flooding re-occurs," he said. (antara/mcr20/jpnn)

This news has been broadcast on JPNN.com with the title: Puluhan Hektare Sawah di Cianjur Terendam Banjir