h them considerable inconvenience. For a city much reliant on motorcycles for transport, a fifth also claimed their motorcycles had been badly damaged," Eddy said.

But the flood did raise public awareness of the importance of environmental hygiene and sanitation.

The survey found that most people were aware of the potential fallout from flooding in terms of disease and the potential health threat to the community.

Some 82 percent of respondents were concerned about the potential for widespread health problems, particularly in relation to dengue fever, colds and flus -- including avian influenza -- as well as diarrheal and skin diseases.

"Apparently, the floods and their impact have heightened people's awareness of various diseases and their concerns about health and hygiene," Eddy said.

Also of major concern to respondents was the availability of staple food products like rice, sugar and cooking oil and potential price increases as a result of the floods.

Some 48 percent of people surveyed said they had noticed staple food shortages in the days after the flood and 64 percent were worried the prices of staples would increase.

©Jakarta Post