Indonesia flash floods kill 44, toll expected to rise

Jakarta - Rescuers are struggling to reach the remote and worst-hit area because of rains and strong waves.

At least 44 people were killed after flash floods and landslides swept an island in Indonesia’s easternmost province on Sunday morning, rescue officials said, adding they expected the toll to rise.

“There are 44 people dead with nine injured” in East Flores regency, and “many (...) are still under the mud”, National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Raditya Jati told AFP.

Hours before people woke to celebrate Easter Sunday, torrential rain unleashed flash floods in the Catholic-majority Flores Island.

Mud inundated homes, while bridges and roads in the eastern end of the island were destroyed.

Rescuers are struggling to reach the remote and worst-hit area in East Flores regency because of rains and strong waves.

The death toll rose from 23 earlier announced by authorities.

The number of injured is also expected to increase as the agency is still receiving reports from locals, Jati said.

“We are still documenting the total number of people injured,” the spokesperson said, adding that extreme weather is expected to continue in the coming week.

Separately on Sunday, major floods also killed two people in Bima city in the neighbouring province of West Nusa Tenggara, according to the disaster agency.