High tides force hundreds to evacuate

Panca Nugraha ,  The Jakarta Post ,  West Lombok   |  Thu, 05/08/2008 1:06 AM  |  Headlines

HIGH TIDE: (JP/Panca Nugraha)At least 150 families were forced from their homes Wednesday when high tides hit Cemara village in West Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

Residents fled the village (photo left) when rising tidewater engulfed the village at 10:30 a.m. local time. Cemara is in the south of Lombok Island, some 21 kilometers from the provincial capital Mataram.

On Wednesday noon, water swamped the area up to a half meter.

"The water abruptly rose and overflowed the banks. We thought a tidal wave was about to break. The water was waist-level at one point," a fisherman, Sahdan, told The Jakarta Post.

He said the water level rose Tuesday, but subsided in the afternoon until it rose higher Wednesday.

Residents evacuated to safer ground Wednesday, assisted by members of the West Lombok Police, the Water Police, the military and a search and rescue team. The local social service office distributed relief aid such as tents and food.

Chief of nearby Lembar village Lalu Wirakaryadi told the Post high tides were an annual occurrence in the area, but this time the tides were higher and caused more damage.

The tides swept over as many as 10 hectares of traditional fish and shrimp ponds. No casualties were recorded.

"The tides swamped fish and shrimp farms and burst many dikes. We have yet to ascertain the total damage," he said.

Many residents were determined to stay home and refused to be evacuated Wednesday on the grounds they needed to look after their homes and belongings.

"Some are still taking shelter in mosques, but we are encouraging them to evacuate to safer areas because the tides are unpredictable," said Lalu.

West Lombok Vice Regent Izzul Islam and police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Ruslan inspected the relief shelter Wednesday.

Izzul said his office had distributed food packages for lunch and dinner. It would immediately channel medicine and food supplies for the common kitchen.

Head of observation and information at the Mataram weather station Catur Winarti said the high tides in Cemara were caused by a swell in the Indian Ocean.

"The swell couldn't be predicted, but it usually lasts a week," she said, adding it was not caused by the recent cyclone in Myanmar.

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