Toll in Indonesia landslide rises to 51

Bangkok, Dec 16 (IANS/EFE) The toll in last week's landslide in central Java region of Indonesia has reached 51 with another 57 people still missing even as search and rescue operations continued, media reported Tuesday quoting a government agency.

The spokesperson for the country's National Agency for Disaster Management, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said 43 bodies of victims of the landslide in Jemblung, in central Java, had been identified and handed over to their families, according to the Jakarta Globe newspaper.

The bodies that were still to be identified were being kept in the Banjarnegara hospital.

According to the agency, rain hampered search operations in which close to 1,000 people, including policemen and volunteers, were taking part.

The landslide occurred Friday after several days of incessant rain in the region.

Every year, hundreds of people die in landslides which are more frequent during the rainy season in Indonesia between November and March.

"Data shows that 248 people have died due to landslides this year," according to the spokesperson.

--IANS/EFE

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