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Floods in Banyumas, Cilacap begin to recede
Rescue: A farmer tries on Wednesday to round up his ducks as they float along in floodwaters inundating a paddy field in Kroya, Cilacap
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Rescue: A farmer tries on Wednesday to round up his ducks as they float along in floodwaters inundating a paddy field in Kroya, Cilacap. A number of farmers say widespread flooding in the regency has inflicted huge financial losses as waters swept away thousands of chickens and significant amounts of livestock. (JP/Agus Maryono) (JP/Agus Maryono)
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span class="inline inline-center">Rescue: A farmer tries on Wednesday to round up his ducks as they float along in floodwaters inundating a paddy field in Kroya, Cilacap. A number of farmers say widespread flooding in the regency has inflicted huge financial losses as waters swept away thousands of chickens and significant amounts of livestock. (JP/Agus Maryono)
Floodwaters that have affected several areas of Banyumas and Cilacap regencies for five days have begun to recede. Houses in certain areas, however, are still inundated by quite high floodwaters, reaching up to 70 centimeters in depth. Paddy fields are also still fully submerged although water levels have decreased.
'Floods are still affecting a number of areas. Evacuees have not yet dared to return home,' Puji Febrywati, 27, a humanitarian aid volunteer in Sidareja district, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.
She said floodwaters began to recede on Wednesday because rain that fell on Tuesday evening was not too heavy. If heavy rains fell over the area again, floodwaters would likely increase once more, she added.
Puji said local residents in Sidareja and surrounding areas did not want to take the risk of leaving evacuation centers as the depth of floodwaters was still considered to be dangerous.
'Roads are still fully covered by floodwaters, which are still inundating residents' houses, of up to around 70 centimeters in depth,' she said.
Meanwhile, Cilacap administration spokesperson Taryo said there were still adequate supplies of humanitarian aid, such as health kits and food prepared by public-kitchen volunteers, for people taking refuge in a number of temporary shelters.
'Currently, around 700 residents are still holding out in evacuation posts. They are still afraid to return home despite decreased floodwaters,' Taryo told the Post.
He said the evacuees were accommodated at, among other places, the Sidareja district meeting hall and the Sidareja subdistrict military command (Koramil) office.
Floodwaters have inundated a number of villages in 11 districts in Cilacap regency over the last five days while in Banyumas regency, flooding has occurred in three districts during the last two days.
The 11 inundated districts in Cilacap are Bantarsari, Cipari, Gandrungmangu, Kawunganten, Karangpucung, Kedungreja, Kroya, Majenang, Nusawungu, Sidareja and Wanareja. Meanwhile, flooding in Banyumas has affected Kemranjen, Sumpiuh and Tambak districts. (ebf)
