Indonesia: Death toll from floods, landslides hits 59

By Mahmut Atanur

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AA) - The death toll from torrential rains that triggered landslides and floods on an Indonesian island has climbed to 59, the country's disaster agency said on Friday.

At least 47 people are injured and 25 remain missing, while nearly 5,000 homes are damaged in disaster-hit Sulawesi Island, according to Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNDP).

The heavy rains hit at least 13 districts across Sulawesi Island, including provincial capital Makassar of South Sulawesi province.

Thousands of people were stuck in the region and evacuated from their homes.

The floods and landslides damaged houses, government buildings, schools, and bridges.

Nugroho added that the search and rescue mission is underway to trace the missing victims.

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