Padang, W Sumatra (ANTARA News) - Two people were found dead on Wednesday night after being buried in a landslide triggered by heavy rains in the West Sumatra provincial capital of Padang earlier in the day.

The two, identified as Nazwa and Jamaris, were among four people feared dead in the landslide, Noverman, head of the identification section of the Padang city disaster mitigation board, said on Thursday.

The bodies of the two landslide victims had been taken to M. Djalil hospital here for autopsy.

"Two other people believed to have been buried in the landslide are still missing," he said.

Rescue workers temporarily suspended their search for the two people on Wednesday night and resumed it on Thursday morning, he said.

"The rescue workers are still in the scene of landslide and flash flood," he said.

The flash flood also affected other areas in Padang, including Tabing Banda Gadang, Ulu Gadut, and Limau Manis.

The landslide occurred at 05.00 p.m. on Wednesday following heavy rains. "When heavy rainfalls poured over the area six houses were damaged and four people were buried in landslide," he said.

He said residents of Batu Busuak in Padang who survived the landslide and flash flood had been evacuated to safer grounds.

"To avoid the higher number of victims, the residents have been evacuated to safer grounds. They are being sheltered at mosques and school buildings while others are taking refuge at their neighbors` houses," he said.

(S012/F001)

Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2012