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EKANBARU, Riau: About 20 wild elephants ran amok Wednesday in Sebanga hamlet, Balai Makam village, Mandau district in Bengkalis regency, killing an 83-year-old man in the process.

Mandau Police chief Adj. Comr. Dedi Nata said the victim, Jalinus, could not escape when the elephants destroyed the house where he lived with his daughter, son-in-law and grandchild, at about 1 a.m. on Wednesday.

"The victim, who had just woken up, could not save himself. He was caught up in the stampede, and residents found parts of his body early Wednesday morning after they managed to disperse the animals," Dedi said, adding that residents used noises and fires to disperse the elephants.

He said the victim's family decided to bury Jalinus at his hometown of Payakumbuh, West Sumatra, on Wednesday afternoon, although parts of his body, including his eyes and lower jaw, were still missing.

Dedi added 15 families in the hamlet panicked during the ele-phant attack, but managed to flee to safety before chasing off the elephants.