People associate floods with dragon legend

BALIKPAPAN, East Kalimantan: The East Kalimantan regency of West Kutai does not seem free yet from floods as a number of areas along the Mahakam River have been swamped by the river outflow with the water height reaching more than 30 centimeters.

Local residents, a majority of whom come from the Dayak ethnic community, associated the floods with the presence of a pair of giant serpents they believe as dragons.

Alex said on Jan. 29, local residents were startled by the presence of a pair of male and female dragons measuring 60 centimeters in diameter and 40-meters-long swaying through the river from Riam Haloq, Long Tuyoq village, Long Panghangai district in West Kutai.

The serpents, which members of the Dayak community believe to be dragons, were seen by a boat driver and passengers who were traveling from Long Bagun in the Mahakam Ulu area to Long Panghangai. - JP