Days of torrential rain triggered landslides, killing up to 88
people till 21:00 local time in Central Java province of Indonesia
on Wednesday, Antara news agency reported.
Indonesian soldiers and volunteers search for missing people
following a landslide in Tawangmangu on Java island Dec. 26,
2007. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
Out of the victims, 71 people were killed in Karanganyar
district of the province, 17 were killed in regencies of
Tirtomoyodan Manyaran of Wonogiri district. And thousands of houses
were destroyed by the floods, said the report.
Hundreds of rescuers, using heavy machinery equipment and bare
hands, are removing the rubbles of houses to find missing said the
report.
Local people, together with policemen and soldiers, are
evaluating affected people in several areas, but the works are very
difficult as it is in the night, the report added.
Indonesian soldiers and villagers dig into mud to search for
landslide victims in Karang Anyar district near Solo, Indonesia's
Central Java province, Dec. 26, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo)
Floods also hit Solo, causing 26,720 people from 5,344 families
fled their home, said the report.
Indonesia has been frequently hit by flood and landslide due to
lack of forest-covered areas, which could not hold excessive waters
during heavy rains.
Activists have already warned that the forests in the area are
under threat from large-scale forest destruction.
Indonesia, which is losing its forests at the world's fastest
rate, is struggling to safe its rain-forest from deforestation.
(Xinhua News Agency December 27, 2007)
