Tourists warned as flooding damages houses in Java

Tourists visiting coastal areas in Indonesia's Java island were warned as flooding and tidal waves have damaged hundreds of houses and buildings, triggering an evacuation, an official said here on Thursday.

Coastal areas in Java island severely suffered the impact of the flooding and waves on Wednesday, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency, said.

"The flooding and tidal waves are still potential to happen in coming days. Tourists at beaches must be alert and obey all prohibitions and rules," Xinhua news agency quoted Sutopo as saying.

The warning is also directed to people living in the coastal areas and sailors are banned from fishing during high tides, he added.

Nearly 1,300 people fled from Java's Lumajang and Pekalongan cities, said Sutopo.

The flooding and tidal waves struck most of provinces in Java island, Jakarta and the country's second largest city of Surabaya in East Java province are among the hit-areas, he said.

Tidal waves are forecast to occur in the next several days in the waters off western coast of Sumatra island and southern coast of the islands of Bali and Sumbawa, he added.

--IANS

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