Death toll rises in Palopo landslide

Search and rescue workers have evacuated 18 bodies after rain triggered landslides in Palopo, South Sulawesi on Sunday morning.
 
Lt. Col. Dede Indra, commander of the local military district, told Antara state news agency Tuesday that eight people were still missing and were feared dead.
 
Dede said rescue teams were still working to evacuate villagers in the mountainous areas, who were still cut off.
 
South Sulawesi Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo said the provincial administrattion had deployed heavy machinery and medical help to the disaster area.
 
The landslides occurred after a three-hour torrential downpour drenched the area early  on Sunday. Most of the worst-afffected places were on deforested mountain slopes.