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loods in Jambi over the past three weeks have claimed four lives and affected thousands of people.

The four victims from Bungo, Merangin and Muaro jambi regencies and Jambi city died after being swept away by strong water currents.

“Besides the fatalities, the floods have also affected 134,000 people and submerged 38,286 houses,” the preparedness unit head of the Jambi Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), Dalmato, said on Wednesday.

The floods hit nine out of 11 regencies and cities in the province. Only two areas were spared from the disaster, Kerinci regency and Sungai Penuh municipality.

The most affected area is Batanghari regency where 21,000 people were affected from seven districts and 80 villages.

The floods had inundated various public facilities, like 22 health facilities, 86 schools, 33 house of worships, two offices, 10 bridges and 17 roads.

“The high intensity rain since Feb. 28 has contributed to the overflowing of rivers, which caused the floods,” he said.

Joint local authorities under a quick reaction team including the BPBD, Indonesian Military (TNI), Police and provincial administration evacuated victims and distributed aid.

Nurangesti Widaystuti, head of Jambi office of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency, urged residents to stay alert for floods as there is still the potential of high intensity rain in Jambi.