Jakarta, Indonesia:
More than 70 persons have died and dozens are nonetheless missing right after flash floods and landslides hit Indonesia and neighbouring East Timor, officials stated Monday.
“There are 55 dead, but this number is very dynamic and will definitely change, while some 42 people are still missing,” Indonesia disaster management agency spokesman Raditya Djati told broadcaster MetroTV.
At least 16 persons had also died in East Timor, stated an official in the tiny half-island nation that lies among Indonesia and Australia.
Floods sparked by torrential rain wreaked havoc and destruction on islands stretching from Flores in Indonesia to East Timor, sending thousands fleeing into shelters.
The deluge and subsequent landslides triggered dams to overflow, submerging thousands of homes and leaving rescue workers struggling to attain trapped survivors.
Fatal landslides and flash floods are typical across the Southeast Asian archipelago for the duration of the rainy season.
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