Toll rises to 19 in Indonesia landslides

Rescuers found two more bodies Saturday evening, bringing the death toll to 19 in landslides in Indonesia's Java island.

The landslides occurred Friday night in Banjarnegara district of Central Java province, burying dozens of houses and injuring 18 people. "Among the injured, the condition of seven is serious," Xinhua quoted Muhammad Kosasih, an official from the national disaster management agency, as saying.

Scores of people were still missing when the search was called off Saturday.

"Rescue efforts to search for the 71 missing people have been halted since Saturday afternoon due to rain, and the rescue operation would be resumed Sunday morning," Kosasih said.

A heavy downpour was to be blamed for the disaster. The landslides also blocked roads, creating difficulties in sending heavy machinery to the scene, the official added.