Jakarta (ANTARA News) - The death toll from floods, landslides and whirlwinds, which engulfed the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi rose to 68 as of Sunday, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).

"By January 27, 2019, 188 villages in 71 sub-districts were affected by the disaster which left 68 people dead, 7 people missing and 47 people injured and forced 6,737 others to take refuge," Chief of BNPB Data and Information Center and Public Relations Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a press statement released on Sunday.

The disaster hit hardest the districts of Gowa, Jeneponto, Marros and Wajo and the municipality of Makassar, he said.

He said the disaster also caused serious damage to 459 houses, moderate damage to 30 houses and light damage to 23 houses, not to mention 33 houses carried away by water currents and two others buried by landslide.

The floods also inundated 5,198 houses, 16.2 kilometers of roads, and 13,326 hectares of paddy fields and affected 34 bridges, 2 markets, 12 places of worship, 8 government facilities and 65 school buildings.

"The joint SAR team is searching for 7 people who are still missing," he said.

Reporting by Desca Lidya Natalia, Suharto

Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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