But the situation remained a challenge for the widow who lives by herself. Cold and hunger struck as she claimed that the Tangerang administration that set up the emergency posts were always late in delivering food.

She joined dozens of other affected residents in the flood evacuation center in Persada Sports Arena in Tangerang. They fled from their houses in the heavily inundated Total Persada Housing Complex in Gembor subdistrict after heavy rains forced the nearby Kali Ledug River to overflow and break the embankment that held back the water on Monday after the flooding started over the weekend.

The flooding affected 1,493 families in six community units (RW) in the subdistrict. Most of the residents had evacuated immediately to three emergency shelters, namely the Persada Sports Arena, which holds most of the evacuees, Al-Mujahidin Mosque in Gembor and Total Persada Elementary School.

As of Thursday, the floodwaters have receded in four community units, namely RW 2, RW 4, RW 5 and RW 10. Meanwhile, water still submerged houses in two community units, RW 7 and RW 8, since both are located near the collapsed embankment.

After living in the shelter for three days, Lina said she hoped the administration would work swiftly to help meet the needs of affected residents. She also said the evacuees did not have access to clean water as the water in the toilets in the sports arena was not available.

She said that the sports arena had always been used as an evacuation shelter. She recalled that she stayed in the same location when flooding struck the area three years ago. However, she said back then the arena had already been equipped with fresh water.

Popular

Lessons from Aceh peace process may still be relevant in today’s conflicts

To rescue or abandon Java?

Govt imports over 1,500 dairy cows to boost milk production