More landslides in Palopo as 1,000 people seek refuge

Andi Hajramurni ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 11/10/2009 8:56 PM  |  National

More than 1,000 people have sought refuge after fresh landslides hit villages near the South Sulawesi city of Palopo on Tuesday.

“There have been new landslides, so we evacuated them to refugee centers for fear that they may get killed if the landslides continue,” Palopo Mayor Pateddungi Andi Tenri Ajeng said.

Tenri said he had ordered the evacuation as the people lived on or under mountain slopes, making them vulnerable to landslides that might strike at any time. The displaced people were sheltering in two school buildings, two mosques, a church and two large tents.

The mayor said his administration would relocate the families to safer places, but it would require a huge budget. “We will work with the Ministry of Social Services to relocate the residents,” he said.

Spokesman for the municipal government Hermawan Irfan said the landslides had disrupted tap water and power supplies.

As of Tuesday, the death toll from the disaster had reached 11. The landslides happened after a three-hour-long torrential downpour drenched the area late Sunday.

As of Tuesday the death toll from the disaster reached 11. The landslides occurred after a three-hour torrential downpour drenched the area late Sunday.

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