Death toll from Indonesia's landslides rises to 44

Death toll from Indonesia's landslides on March 11 rises to 44 (Photo: https: reuters.com)

Hanoi (VNA) – Indonesian authorised units have reported the death toll from the landslides striking Indonesia's western province of Riau Islands increased to 44 on Saturday, as the search for the 11 missing people was still going on.  

Raja Darmika, head of the operation unit of the disaster management and mitigation agency of Natuna Regency, said of the 44 bodies recovered, 43 have been identified.

Meanwhile, Syariffuddin Muhammad, secretary of Natuna disaster management and mitigation agency, acknowledged that heavy downpours were blamed for the natural disaster, destroying more than 30 houses, with the number of people evacuated reaching 2,234.

The rescue operation has involved heavy machinery, and personnel from the local search and rescue office, the local disaster management and mitigation agency, as well as military personnel and police, he added./.