24 dead, 26 missing in Indonesian floods, landslides
-
People stand in front of a flooded area in the Kampung Sewuresidential area in Solo, Central Java Province, Indonesia, June 19, 2016. (Photo by Reuters)
Flash floods and landslides have left two dozen people dead and 26 others missing in Indonesia’s Central Java Province.
“Initial data... shows the impact of the floods and landslides in Central Java has caused 24 deaths, with 26 others still missing,” Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman for the national disaster mitigation agency, said in a statement on Sunday.
“Heavy rain has caused floods and landslides in 16 regencies in Central Java,” he added.
“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.
Temporary shelters have been set up to help those evacuated from the disaster zones.
Footage aired by local broadcasters showed villagers sitting on their roofs to escape the rising waters, their cars and homes submerged in brown water.
ME
