everal regions were inundated by heavy rains and many others were preparing for possible flooding on Friday, as the country enters the rainy season this month.
Aceh was among the worst-hit provinces, with five regencies reporting heavy flooding.
A flash flood in Southeast Aceh regency killed one and injured four others, according to local media reports.
Several regencies, including Aceh Jaya, declared states of emergency in response to the flooding. West Aceh declared an emergency on Tuesday after at least 40 villages in the regency were flooded, according to an estimate by the West Aceh Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD).
No casualties had been reported in West Aceh as of Friday afternoon, but nearly 500 people had been forced to evacuate their homes. Local police and military personnel assisted residents with the evacuation and provided disaster relief at the evacuation posts.
“We have compiled data on the evacuees and their homes,” West Aceh Police chief Sr. Comr. Andi Kirana said on Thursday, as quoted by Antara.
The flood in West Aceh reportedly damaged 36 schools, as well as several bridges and irrigation systems. The total damage could cost the regency around Rp 34.5 billion (US$2.2 million), according to West Aceh Public Works and Spatial Planning Agency head Kurdi, as reported by Antara.
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