"The natural disasters were triggered by heavy rain which fell since Saturday afternoon until mid night," Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the head of the Data and Information Center of the BNPB, said in a press statement here on Sunday.
The districts/municipal cities which were hit by the floods and landslides in Central Java were Purworejo, Banjarnegara, Kendal, Sragen, Purbalingga, Banyumas, Sukoharjo, Kebumen, Wonosobo, Pemalang, Klaten, Magelang, Wonogiri, Cilacap, Karanganyar and Kota Solo.
Sutopo said the disaster also caused damage to tens of houses buried by landslides and thousands of others inundated by flood waters.
Most of the dead victims were found in Purworejo District. Five residents of Karangrejo village of Loano subdistrict were buried by landslides while nine others (non local residents) were also found dead. Rescue workers are still searching for those being buried by landslides.
"When a small landslide blocked the road in the location, three passenger of a truck tried to move away the rocks. Behind the truck were several motorcyclists. All of a sudden a major landslides happened and buried the vehicles and people on the road. Nine dead victims have been evacuated," Sutopo said.
Landslides also took place in Donorati village of Purworejo District where 15 residents were reported missing. Two were killed in Sidomulyo and Pacekelan villages, four were still missing.
In Jelog village, Kaligesing, two were reported missing and tens of houses were buried by landslides.
Floods as a result of the overflow of Bogowonto River in Purworejo District claimed the lives of four and caused two others missing.
In Kebumen District, hundreds of houses were inundated and one resident was killed.
Six were found dead in the landslides in Sampang Village, Sempor Subdistrict.
Landslides also occurred in Banjarnegara District, killing six people and causing damage to tens of houses.
The Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) is still carrying out emergency response. It is assisted by various sides including police and military personnel.(*)
Editor: Heru Purwanto
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