Flood in Aceh

Saw the news today about the flood in Aceh and other parts of Sumatra. I can't help but think about the people in Meulaboh, whether they are physically ok. My mum commented that thank God we are back from Meulaboh already. It was mentioned in the news that the flood had caused land transportation to cut off from Aceh to North Sumatra. I am worried for the people, really. Hope that the rain will subside soon.. If you are reading this entry now, pls take a moment to say a little prayer for the well being of the people..

Sumatra floods force thousands from homes
http://www.thejakartapost.com/detailheadlines.asp?fileid=20061224.@01&irec=0

Andi Hajramurni and Apriadi Gunawan, The Jakarta Post, Pangkep, Langkat
Flooding in Aceh, North Sumatra and Riau Islands provinces has left at least 12 people dead and dozens of others missing, as well as cutting off land transportation routes and forcing thousands to flee their homes.
Meanwhile, Vice President Jusuf Kalla has blamed flooding and landslides during the rainy season and droughts during the dry season on the destruction of the country's forests. The Vice President promised the government would intensify national efforts to rehabilitate forests, allocating Rp 4 trillion annually beginning next year for the work.
Floods had affected seven out of 21 regencies and cities in Aceh as of Saturday, killing at least five people and forcing thousands of others from their homes.
Provincial secretary of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, Husni Bahri, said the flooding was the worst natural disaster in the province since the Dec. 26, 2004, tsunami.
"Land transportation from Aceh to North Sumatra was completely cut off today (Saturday), with the roads in Besitang district, North Sumatra, under up to one meter of water," he was quoted by Antara news agency.
Flooding forced some 70,000 people to take up temporary residence in shelters. Relief aid, including rice, instant noodles, blankets and tents, has already begun to reach those affected by the disaster.
Husni said the flooding could get worse as rain continued to pound Aceh.
Public bus ticketing agents said land transportation between Aceh and North Sumatra had been cut off since Friday.
"The worst flooding hit Besitang, completely cutting off routes to and from Aceh," a ticketing agent, Nanda, told Antara on Saturday.
He said most buses from Aceh could only take passengers as far as Kuala Simpang in Aceh Tamiang regency, which is located near the border with North Sumatra.
In North Sumatra, a second day of flooding Saturday saw the waters spread to 12 districts in Langkat regency. Eight people have died in the floods and 12 others are missing.
Langkat regency spokesman Syam Sumarno said the bodies had been recovered, but he expected the death toll to rise with 12 more people missing since Friday.
He said several rivers in Langkat regency had burst their banks, causing flooding in 12 districts. About 36,000 people in the districts have been forced from their homes.
"Today (Saturday) we evacuated residents of Sekoci village in Besitang district after they had been trapped in their village for the last two days," said Sumarno. He said the water in the village reached three meters in height in some locations.
Langkat Regent Syamsul Arifin said these were the worst floods in the area for the past 40 years.
"We didn't expect the flooding to be this bad, especially in Besitang," he said while accompanying North Sumatra Governor Rudolf Pardede on an inspection of flood affected areas in the regency.
Floodwaters also have affected six regencies in Riau following several days of heavy rain.
"We have lifted the flood alert status to the highest level since the waters spread to six regencies," the head of the provincial social services office, Wan Darlis Ilyas, told Antara on Saturday.
The worst flooding has occurred in the regencies of Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir and Kampar, where he said water had reached three meters high.
Meanwhile, in a speech to thousands of Golkar Party supporters marking the party's anniversary in Pangkajene Islands regency, some 100 kilometers north of the South Sulawesi capital Makassar, Vice President Kalla, who also chairs Golkar, said all citizens must protect the forests or they would continue to suffer from natural disasters.
He also urged people to report illegal loggers to the police. "If the forests disappear and our rivers and seas are harmed, we will suffer the consequences, which are natural disasters," he said in the local Bugis language.
He said the government had made preparations to deal with natural disasters during this year's rainy season.