Floods in Sumatra, 24,000 evacuated

(ANSA) - LHOK SUKON, JANUARY 04 - There are 24,000 evacuees on the Indonesian island of Sumatra hit by floods, which have already cost the lives of two children.

Torrential rains hit the island for days, flooding the rivers and flooding the villages.

    "This is an unprecedented disaster," said Muzakkir, a resident of Pirak Timur in the worst-hit province of Aceh.

    Environmental NGOs are pointing the finger at wild deforestation to make room for palm oil cultivation.

    The damage extends to neighboring Malaysia, where about 13,000 people have been evacuated in the provinces of Johor, Malacca and Sabah.

(HANDLE).