Death toll of Indonesia's flash floods, landslides climbs to 112 with nearly 12,000 displaced

The death toll in the flash floods and landslides in Jayapura district of Papua province in eastern Indonesia has jumped to 112, with 11,556 others taking shelters, a disaster official said on Saturday.

Search for 94 missing persons persisted, involving soldiers, police personnel and those from search and rescue office, said Dodi Sambodo, spokesman of joint command post for emergency relief efforts at the province.

Torrential rains pouring down the district days ago, had led the surface of water in Sentani Lake to rise, stoking fears among the people and triggering further evacuation, he said.

"For now, one of the focuses of the emergency relief efforts is opening transport access, such as clearing roads from wooden logs, mud and ruble, and rebuilding temporary bridges. So that aids distribution can be paved," Dodi told Xinhua over phone from Jayapura district.

There are 30 spots where the displaced persons are taking shelters in the district, the spokesman said.

The disaster, which struck the district last Saturday, also damaged a total of 357 houses, over 100 buildings, four bridges, eight school buildings, five religious buildings and other infrastructures facilities, according to the national disaster management agency.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)