Death toll rises to 147 after flash floods in eastern Indonesia

Death toll rises to 147 after flash floods in eastern Indonesia

2010-10-11 21:36:11 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- The death toll after flash floods in Indonesia's eastern Papua region has risen to 147 with 123 still reported missing, officials said on Monday.

The rising death toll is expected to continue to escalate, and despite the devastating flash floods hitting the area one week ago, an estimated number is still unavailable.

Coordinating Minister of Public Welfare, Agung Laksono, said the loss of infrastructure has been devastating as well with numerous homes destroyed, a collapsed bridge, crumbled roads, 12 schools destroyed, and one hospital as well. But the general losses are still being analyzed, Laksono said.

Syamsul Maarif, head of the National Agency for Disaster Management, said that local governments have reported damage in about 80 percent of the areas in three different districts in Wasior, "but the important thing right now is emergency response to meet the basic needs of society."

Yappy Akwan, Wondama Bay District Second Government Assistant, said the ongoing searches are continuing as rescue workers treat victims.

Meanwhile, hundreds of additional refugees are crowding shelters set up at a training center in Manokwari, West Papua, waiting for further aid and medical assistance. About two thousand refugees had previously arrived from Wasior on Sunday night, including several children and toddlers.

Officials earlier said that thousands of buildings have been affected, including hundreds of flooded houses as heavy rainfall flushed the West Papua capital of Wasior, located in Wondama Bay, carrying logs and rocks from the mountainous areas.

This was the third instance of major flooding in the area in the past 50 years; the first in 1955 and the second in 2008. However, no victims were reported in the previous two incidents.

"I express our deep sympathy over the destruction and loss of life caused by the flooding and landslides in eastern Indonesia, particularly in the province of West Papua," said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a previous statement. "We send our heartfelt condolences to those affected by this tragedy."

According to officials, four ships have been deployed to the affected-areas, along with rescuers, medical personnel and volunteers.

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