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undreds of injured were being treated at health posts and dead bodies were evacuated to emergency posts in Cireundeu after part of a dam containing the nearby Situ Gintung Lake burst, and sent a deadly torrent of muddy water through a residential area in South Jakarta early on Friday morning.

More than a hundred people were treated at seven health posts in the area and bodies were taken to posts at the Ahmad Dahlan School of Economics (STIE), University of Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) and Cirendeu Permai residential complex.

Indonesian Red Cross (PMI) official Agus Rama Dani could not estimate the number of people missing, but said at least 250 families had been affected. Health Ministry officials reported at least 58 people had been killed.

Rescue teams were deployed by the police brigade and the national search and rescue team, and hundreds of students joined in the rescue efforts.

Using rubber boats, teams evacuated survivors clinging onto rooftops and trapped in houses. They also removed the bodies of the dead. A member of the police brigade said that at least 500 officers had been deployed to the scene.

Rescuers from Islamic State University (UIN) and the police brigade were the first to arrive at the scene, at around 7 a.m..

Zakariah Tanjung of UIN said he had come to the site after seeing the news on television at around 6 a.m..

Rescuers found it difficult to access areas near the foot of the dam because it was already heavily flooded and extremely dangerous, Tanjung said.

"We prioritized saving the living," he said.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who also made a quick visit, promised to help.

"We will provide aid for the victims and help them repair their homes," he said.

Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari said her office would help survivors, identify the dead and help prevent diseases.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said that the government would reconstruct Situ Gintung lake with safe engineering.

"The burst dam must be rebuilt. We will design the new structure in a proper way so that it will not cause any further public concerns," the President told reporters at the site.

Ministers also interrupted their legislative election schedules to inspect rescue operations.

One resident, Azizah, said the 2.1 million-cubic meter-lake was almost dry after the sluice gate had burst.

"It's empty. All that water is gone," Azizah said.

Donations flowed into STIE's emergency post.

Political parties including the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and Hanura also set up posts.

Agus said displaced residents would need drinking water and instant food.

"A lot of blankets and clothes are also needed," he said.

Public Works Minister Djoko Kirmanto said he would send a team from his office and a group of experts from Japan to redesign the dam.