Water from Lapindo mud field inundates railway, roads

Jakarta, NU Online
Water from Lapindo mud field has began inundating railways and main road in Porong district, Sidoardjo regency, East Java, official says.

Porong district head Mulyadi, who just observed the area Sunday evening, said the water level, which have covered railway and Porong's main road, was increasing. He, however, did not elaborate.<>

The condition was worsened by the angered residents, who prevented workers from repairing the dams. The residents were angered because they had not received compensation for their houses, who had been inundated by the mud.

"I am afraid the condition will be worse if there is no better solution is offered," Mulyadi told Elshinta news radio Sunday.

Previously, Antara news agency reported that mudflow had began disrupting train services from East Java capital of Surabaya to nearby town of Banyuwangi.

Citing spokesman of State railway operator PT KAI Eko Suminto, the agency said that the trains have to slow down their speed when they passed through railways in Porong, fearing that the dam separating the mud and the railway would collapse.

The mud have been flowing from the gas field since early last year, inundating more than 10,000 houses, dozens of factories, and hectares of agricultural fields.

All efforts, including dropping concrete balls to the mouth of the volcano mud, have been carried out. But it is not successful. Experts say that the mud may flow from the gas field for decades. (tjp/dar)