floods, landslides leave 36 dead, 20 missing in Indonesia

Rescuers had discovered 36 bodies and were still looking for 22 others who are missing after floods and landslides hit West Java province in western Indonesia earlier this week, an official from the local disaster agency said on Sunday.

In Garut district, rescuers found 33 bodies and are searching for all the missing persons, Haryadi Wargadibrata, head of provincial disaster agency, told Xinhua by phone from the province.

A total of 6,361 internally displaced persons remain at government office buildings and military stations, he said.

The catastrophe left 951 houses damaged and swept by currents of rivers, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the national disaster management agency, told Xinhua via phone.

Search and rescue operation for the victims involved 1,600 personnel, comprising soldiers, police and those from local search and rescue office, disaster agency office, and the Red Cross.

In Sumedang district, three people were killed after landslides hit 2 houses, he added.

Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides during heavy downpours.

Source : QNA