Flash Floods, Landslides Kill 24, 26 Missing In Indonesia
MEP: At least 24 people have died and 26 others missing after heavy rains and floods triggered landslides in the Indonesian province of Central Java.
A spokesman for the Indonesian Disaster Management Agency, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said “Heavy rain since Saturday has caused floods and landslides in 16 regencies in Central Java.”
Footage aired by local broadcasters showed villagers sitting on their roofs to escape the rising water, their cars and homes submerged in brown water.
“Rescue teams from the military, police, NGOs and volunteers, are contributing to the handling of the emergency and the search continues for those still missing,” he explained.
Sutopo said residents were forced to evacuate to safer areas after torrential rains inundated thousands of homes.
Most of the landslides and flooding occurred in the Purworejo subdistrict, where 11 people died and 26 are reported missing.
Landslides are not uncommon in Indonesia.
Last month, 15 students holidaying at a popular tourist spot in western Indonesia were killed when a landslide swept through their camp ground.
