Indonesia landslide 55 killed, many missing

Jakarta: Landslides caused by torrential rains in eastern Indonesia have killed at least 40 people.

The disaster relief agency said thousands had also been displaced and many are missing.

Landslides broke out on several houses in the village of Lamenele just after midnight on Flores Island in the eastern Nusa Tenggara province.

However, Lenny Ola, head of the local disaster organization, said 38 bodies and five wounded had been found under the rubble.

The bodies of three people have washed away as 40 houses were destroyed in Oyang Byang village.

 Hundreds of people fled their houses which were submerged due to heavy rain.

The floods in the village of Oyang Bayang swept away 40 houses had and the bodies of three people have been recovered.

A press conference by the end of Sunday revealed that hundreds of people have been on the rescue mission. Flash floods and a volcano sliding have cut five bridges on the island affecting six villages.

By Monday morning the death toll reached 55 the rain caused cold lava to crash down the Ili Lewotolic volcano and struck several villages.

Authorities are collecting information on the victims and damage in the areas affected. In Bima, a town in the neighboring province of West Nusa Tenggara, severe floods have been reported and have forced almost 10,000 people to flee.

Landslides and heavy floods occur in Indonesia every year due to seasonal rains.

 Indonesia is a group of several islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile floodplains. Currently, the death toll in floods is likely to increase.

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