Death toll of Indonesia's catastrophes rises to 33 with over 6,000 displaced

JAKARTA - Flashfloods and landslides in West Java province earlier this week has left 33 dead, 22 missing with over 6,000 internally displaced, disaster agency officials said.

In Garut district, rescuers have recovered 30 bodies and are searching for 22 other missing persons, Haryadi Wargadibrata, head of provincial disaster agency said.

A total of 6,361 people were forced to take shelters at government offices and military stations, he added.

As many as 951 houses were damaged, swept by currents of rivers, and submerged by mud and waters in the district, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of national disaster management agency said.

Search and rescue operation for the victims involved 1,600 personnel, comprising soldiers, police and those from local search and rescue office, disaster agency office, and Red Cross, he added.

One helicopter is combing the areas along the two rivers, whose waters overflowed banks after heavy downpours earlier Wednesday, to find the victims, Sutopo said.

Separately, in Sumedang district 3 people were killed after landslides hit 2 houses, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, he revealed.

Indonesia is frequently hit by floods and landslides during heavy downpours.