Floods inundated hundreds of houses at 14 villages in Astambul sub district, Banjar District, South Kalimantan Province following the overflowing of the Riam Kiwa River. The floods which had been triggered by incessant heavy rains over the past three days, however, began to subside at present, ANTARA quoted Muhammad Sonwani Agus of the Astambul sub district administration as saying, here on Saturday. Most of the inundated 290 houses were located near the bank of the Riam Kiwa river, he said. The houses were flooded at a height of between 5 cm to 15 cm. The floods submerged 79 houses at Sungai Alat village, 61 at Pingaran Ilir, 49 at Pingaran Ulu, 18 at Munggu Raya, 17 at Pasar Jatih, 5 at Jati Baru, 13 at Banua Anyar Danau Salak, 13 at Rumah, 12 at Astambul Seberang, nine at Banua Anyar Sungai Tuan, seven at Astambul Kota, six at Tambangan, 5 at Sungai Tuan Ilir, and three respectively at Sungai Tuan Ulu and Kaliukan villages. "The report that we have received, said that the foods have begun to subside and local residents evacuating themselves to higher grounds, have returned to their homes," he said. Two villages at Martapura Kota sub districts were also flooded due to the overflowing of Riam Kiwa river. Tambak Baru and Tambak Baru Ulu villages were submerged by floodwaters up to one's knee deep, Martapura Kota Sub District Head Khairuddin Fahri said. The floods affected 30 houses at Tambak Baru and nine at Tambak Baru Ulu, he said. Meanwhile, a flood swept away one house at Onepute village, Petasia sub district, Morowali District, Central Sulawesi Province, following the overflowing of the La'a River. The house was located near the bank of La'a River. Ten villages were affected by the floods in Petasia sub district, Morowali District. Three elementary schools were submerged, forcing school activities to be relocated to higher grounds.
