Banda Aceh (ANTARA News) - Flash floods triggered by incessant heavy rains over the past two days in mountainous area in Tangse sub district, Pidie District, Aceh Province, killed nine people and swept away hundreds of houses on Thursday at around 11.30 pm Western Indonesian Standard Time (WIB).

The disaster killed nine people and made around 21 others missing, said Ibnu Sa`dan of the Aceh disaster mitigation office, here, Friday.

"According to information from our staff, Wahyudi, in the field, nine people were found dead and 21 are missing in the disaster," he said.

The flash floods have also damaged a number of public facilities.

Makmur Ibrahim, a spokesman of the Aceh provincial administration, said relief aid and volunteers have been dispatch to the flood-affected villages.

"We have sent relief aid, medicines and volunteers to the flood-hit locations. Aceh Governor Irwandi Yusuf will visit Tangse this afternoon (Friday, March 11)," he said.

Tangse is located around 50 km from Sigli town, the capital of Pidie District, or 170 km from Banda Aceh, the capital of Aceh Province.

Three emergency camps have been set up in Tangse so far.

Meanwhile, earlier, Asmadi Syam, head of the Aceh disaster mitigation office, said flash floods hit at least seven villages in Tangse sub district, Pidie District, Aceh Darussalam Province, Thursday evening.

The seven flood-affected villages are Blang Pandak, Blang Dalam, Layan, Peunalom 1, Peunalom 2, Kuala Krueng, and Krueng Meriam.

Reports of casualties and material losses were not immediately available, he said.

The Aceh authorities have dispatched relief aid consisting of kitchenware, one ton of rice, 10 boxes of canned fish, 10 boxes of cooking oil, 400 boxes of instant noddles and clothes, according to Burhanuddin, a spokesman of the Aceh provincial social affairs office.
(T. A042/F001/HAJM)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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