Indonesia floods death toll jumps to 21

MAKASAR: The death toll from floods on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island has risen to at least 21, authorities said Wednesday as residents tried to salvage a few belongings from their inundated homes.

The flash floods in North Luwu regency left hundreds of houses buried in mud after three rivers burst their banks due to torrential rains which started on Monday.

Nearly 1,600 people were taking refuge in temporary shelters, the Search and Rescue Agency said.

The death toll rose to 21 with the discovery of six more bodies including a child but authorities said it was not clear how many people were still missing.

Dozens thought to have been swept away had been located but at least two remained unaccounted for.

“The number of missing people might increase as many villages haven t reported exact data of their missing residents,” said the agency s chief in South Sulawesi, Muhammad Rizal.

Putri Nirmala Pakaya, whose three-year-old daughter was missing, pleaded with officials to help find her child who was swept out of her father s arms by the floods.

Putri, her husband, and her five-month-old son survived although she suffered a fractured leg.

Hundreds of houses as well as government offices and public facilities were engulfed mud from the floods.

Villagers searched through their homes for pots and pans and other belongings to take to the temporary shelters.

Adi Maulana, a geologist at Hasanuddin University, said North Luwu district was a flood-prone area since the 1800s.