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Rivers in Indonesia's North Sumatra province have burst their banks after two days of rain, flooding parts of Medan city. Many residents have been evacuated or taken refuge on higher ground.

Heavy rains that started on Wednesday have caused swollen rivers in Indonesia's North Sumatra Province to overflow, flooding parts of Medan City and forcing residents to take refuge on higher ground.

But some refused to move, fearing their flooded homes could be looted.

The worst flooding is near the Deli and Babura rivers.

[Farida, Medan Resident]:
"We are afraid of floods that follow weather like this. We didn't expect such a big flood like this one."

[Pinal, Medan Resident]:
"At 2 o'clock in the morning, the water had already started rising and washed away the trees, and at 5 o'clock in the morning the water was almost up to the roof of the house."

Authorities have yet to determine why the deluge (PRON DEL yooj) has caused the rivers to burst their banks, but some have put the blame on shrinking forests further upstream.

Relief aid has been distributed to those who were evacuated, although floodwaters started to recede on Thursday morning. Some evacuees are still seeking roadside donations.

Landslide and floods are a common occurrence during the rainy season in Indonesia, especially in areas which have come under heavy logging activity.