Three killed, one missing in floods

Tue, 04/08/2008 11:52 AM  |  The Archipelago

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: Floods and rain-triggered landslides over the weekend killed three residents in Ruteng regency, while one other is missing.

Four villagers were reportedly swept away by a flood on their return home from the fields at around 5 p.m. local time Saturday.

"We were working in the field together on Saturday. As we were returning home in the late afternoon the river was overflowing due to heavy rains. Eight of us, including the victims, decided to cross the river by holding hands when all of a sudden a swift current swept us away. The four of us were swept to the river's edge while the other four were carried away by currents," said a survivor, Selvi Niwut.

A few hours later local villagers found three of the bodies, with one person still missing, she said.

In Poco Ranaka district, some 400 residents were forced to shelter in a church after a landslide destroyed around 70 homes.

Ruteng Regent Christian Rotok said he had visited the families of victims who had drowned in the floods.

"We have handed over relief aid from the administration. I hope people will be more alert because disasters can happen at any time during this bad weather," he said. -- JP

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