Crosswalk.com

Indonesia: Death Toll from Flooding, Landslides Reaches 47

Veronica Neffinger

The death toll from flooding and landslides in Indonesia has risen to 47 as rescue workers continue to search for missing persons.

According to The Associated Press, many Indonesians live in mountainous areas or plains close to rivers which can become danger zones when landslides or flooding occurs.

The landslides and flooding have affected 16 different districts and towns in Central Java province. The district of Purworejo was hit the worst. Four bodies were found there on Monday, according to National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. 

Hundreds of rescue workers continue to search for those still missing. Fifteen villagers are missing from Purworejo.

Nugroho also warned Indonesians to be on their guard because the landslides and flooding may not be over and the torrential rains may continue.

Flooding and landslides due to seasonal rains are common in Indonesia, which is an island chain composed of 17,000 islands. Its population is 256 million. 

Publication date: June 20, 2016