Five killed in Indonesia landslide

At least five people were killed and two were missing after a landslide hit the Central Java province of Indonesia, rescuers said on Saturday.

Heavy downpours triggered the landslide in Purworejo district on Friday, Xinhua quoted Marsudi, spokesman of the National Search and Rescue Office, as saying.

At least two houses were hit, he said.

A rescue team from Central Java office along with soldiers, police and volunteers were searching for the missing, he said.

The disaster badly injured one villager and forced 75 others to take shelter at safer places, said Budi Harjono, operational head in disaster management agency in Purworejo district.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency, said over 250 personnel including those from local search and rescue office, disaster management agency and Red Cross, soldiers, police and volunteers were involved in the search and rescue operation.

Landslide is frequent in Indonesia during heavy rain that often leaves scores of casualties and damage.