Floods kill 101 in eastern Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA, Aug 6 (Reuters) Floods have killed more than 100 people and destroyed homes in eastern Ethiopia after heavy rains caused a river to overflow, police said today.

''Floods from the overflowing Dechatu river hit Dire Dawa town in the middle of yesterday night while residents were sleeping,'' police inspector Benyam Fikru told Reuters.

''The bodies of 101 residents washed away by the floods have been recovered by a joint police and army rescue operation.'' REUTERS AB BD1712