Indonesia floods: Death toll rises to 89 in Papua

By Mahmut Atanur

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA)- Death toll from floods in eastern Indonesia climbed to 89 on Tuesday, according to national disaster management agency.

Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a written statement that 159 people were injured after floods hit Jayapura, capital city of Papua province.

Some 74 people are still missing while the disaster affected 12,000 people.

Floods affected the Sentani region most, Nugroho said, putting the death toll at 82 for it.

At least seven people were killed by landslides, triggered by the floods, in Ampera region, he added.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing at the disaster area with 613 personnel, said the official.

Last January, 68 people lost their lives in disaster-hit Sulawesi Island when torrential rain triggered landslides and floods.

Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, especially during the monsoon season between October and April, when rain lashes the vast tropical archipelago.

* Writing by Beyza Binnur Donmez