State agency warns of more landslides in Palopo

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 11/10/2009 10:22 AM  |  National

The local Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency has warned of more landslides in the disaster-stricken areas in Palopo, South Sulawesi, as more rain is expected in the coming weeks.
 
Sutikno, a staff member at the agency, told tempointeraktif.com Tuesday that the wet season would begin in that region in the third week of the month. He advised the government to evacuate residents living in vulnerable areas in the mountainous area of Palopo regency as soon as possible.
 
He said heavy rains would also hit Tana Toraja and Masamba regencies in the coming weeks.
 
As of Tuesday morning, search and rescue workers had evacuated 18 bodies after rain triggered landslides in Palopo on Sunday morning. Eight people were still missing and were feared dead.
 
Rescue teams are still working to evacuate villagers in the mountainous areas who are still cut off.
 
The landslides occurred after a three-hour torrential downpour drenched the area early Sunday. Most of the worst-affected areas were on deforested mountain slopes.

Copyright © 2008 The Jakarta Post - PT Bina Media Tenggara. All Rights Reserved.