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Over 4,000 escape homes after floods in Indonesia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-28 14:07

JAKARTA -- More than 4,000 people have fled their homes in Java island of Indonesia after floods hit the areas since February 24, the Indonesian Health Ministry said here Saturday.

The head of crisis center of the ministry, Rustam Pakaya, said that the flood has submerged hundreds of houses and killed seven people and injured over 10,000 others.

The evacuees have taken shelter at tens in higher ground places, he said. "In Central Java, 3,300 people have taken shelters, 200 others in West Java and  100 others in East Java," Pakaya told Xinhua.

He said that logistic and medical assistance has been delivered to the victims of the natural disaster.

Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides due to lack of forest covered areas, which is caused by forest destruction and illegal logging.