Death toll in Indonesia landslides, flooding rises to 47

JAKARTA, Indonesia – The death toll from landslides and flooding on the Indonesian island of Java rose to 47 on Monday after rescue workers discovered more bodies, an official said.

Dozens of houses were buried in the landslides and thousands of homes were inundated by floods in 16 districts and towns in Central Java province over the weekend.

National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said rescuers found 12 more bodies on Monday, including four in two villages in the worst-hit district of Purworejo.

Nugroho said about 450 rescue workers including soldiers, police and volunteers continued to search for 15 villagers still missing in Purworejo.

He called on residents of the affected areas to remain vigilant because more landslides are possible and there is still potential for heavy rains.

Seasonal rains often cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, an archipelago of 17,000 islands. Many of its 256 million people live in mountainous areas or flood-prone plains close to rivers.