Indonesian landslide death toll rises to 32

Jakarta, Mar 4: Indonesian rescuers today searched for about40 people missing after massive landslides and floods killed 32 peopleon Flores island, an official said.

Heavy rains hampered rescue efforts in East Nusa Tenggara provincewhere dozens of homes have been washed away and roads severely damaged,Christian Rotok, the regent of the worst-hit Manggarai regency, toldReuters.

''It is now raining heavily but we are continuing the search,''Rotok said. ''It is very difficult to get to the locations as the roadsare blocked.'' He said it was difficult to estimate how many people mayhave been displaced, but 270 people had been moved to safer ground.

Indonesia is in the middle of the rainy season when landslides arefrequent in the country, where tropical downpours can quickly soakhillsides and years of deforestation often means there is littlevegetation to hold the soil.

Reuters

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