Death toll from Indonesia landslides rises to 25

Jakarta, March 9 (IANS) The death toll due to landslides in Indonesia’s Riau Islands has increased to 25, with 33 others missing, a disaster agency official said on Thursday.

Monday’s search and rescue mission for the victims of the natural disaster hitting the Natuna Regency continued, as heavy machinery has arrived and been used to support the mission, the official told Xinhua news agency.

“Of the total 25 bodies, 21 of them have been identified. The number of casualties may still rise with the search going on,” he said.

About 1,300 people fled home after the landslides destroyed houses on Monday, according to a release from the national disaster management and mitigation agency.

Head of the National Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency Suharyanto said that about 100 families would be relocated.

–IANS

ksk/