Yemris Fointuna and Jon Afrizal, Kupang/Jambi – Continuous rain during the past few days has flooded many villages in East Nusa Tenggara and Jambi, with waters more than a meter deep in some areas.

Thirteen villages were affected by the flooding in Belu and the Rote Ndao regencies. In Rote Ndao a local wharf was destroyed by floodwaters.

"Three school buildings were damaged in Fores Timur regency, the Catholic elementary school SD Sarotary, SD Pantai Besar and state-run SD Inpres Supersemar," Saul da Costa, the secretary for the Flores Timor disaster prevention unit, said on Saturday.

Seven houses were destroyed by strong winds in nearby areas," Saul said.

Belu Regent Joachim Lopez said flooding had affected 13 villages in his regency. The flooding occurred when the Benenain River overflowed, he said.

"The regional administration has set up 10 posts to give medical assistance to the victims," he said.

"The flooding was caused by the heavy rains during the past few days on the northern part of Timor island, especially the Timor Tengah Utara and Timor Tengah Selatan regencies," he said.

Lopez said most of the displaced people from the 13 villages were short of drinking water.

Frans Salem of the East Nusa Tenggara disaster mitigation center said he had no information about the damage caused by the disaster in the province.

"The first step we can take is an emergency evacuation. The government will later rebuild the facilities damaged during the disaster," he said.

Five other regencies in Jambi were also affected by the flooding – Kota Jambi, Merangin, Kerinci, Tanjung Jabung Timur and Batanghari.

However, a flood victim said the regional government was doing nothing to help the people in his area. Asking not to be named, he said flooding had destroyed vast areas of paddy fields and plantations owned by people in Kerinci and Tanjungjabung Timur.

Kerinci is believed to be the hardest-hit regency, with washed-out roads cutting transportation links to the city.

Mahendra Taher, an environmental observer, said the flooding was caused by an overflow of the Batanghari river after the disappearance of forests along nearby water catchment areas.