Hanoi (VNA) - Floods and landslidestriggered by tropical cyclone Seroja in a cluster of islands in southeastIndonesia and Timor Leste have killed at least 157 people, with many stillunaccounted for and thousands displaced, authorities said on April 6.
At least 130 deaths were reported on several Indonesianislands near Timor Leste, where 27 people were found dead, while 71 others weremissing after the cyclone brought flash floods, landslides and strong windsamid heavy rain over the weekend, disaster agency BNPB said.
On Lembata island, authorities feared bodies hadbeen washed away. Therefore, competent forces have to use rubber boats to findbodies at sea. In several villages, flash floods hit while people weresleeping.
About 30,000 people have been impacted by floods inIndonesia, some already taking shelter in evacuation centres, but rescueoperations have been made difficult after five bridges collapsed and fallingtrees blocked some roads, BNPB spokesman Raditya Jati said.
Hundreds of houses and other facilities such as asolar power plant were damaged, BNPB said. Ships and motor boats sank as thecyclone set off waves as high as 6 metres.
Floods and landslides often occur in Indonesiaduring the rainy season. In January, a flash flood killed 40 residents inSumedang township of West Java province.
BNPB estimated that 125 million people or nearly half of the Indonesianpopulation live in areas at risk of landslide./.
VNA