Bodies emerge from thick mud

Bodies emerge from thick mud

PADANG, West Sumatra: Body parts believed to be of 10 victims
missing in the December landslide here have surfaced through the
mud following a heavy downpour.

Most of the remains, however, could not be identified because
they had decomposed, acting Mayor Masril Payan said recently.

Local residents discovered the remains over the past week,
which saw continuous rains eroded the hard mud covering the
bodies, Masril added.

At least 35 people were buried under mud after a landslide
struck a settlement in Palinggam district on Dec. 9 last year. At
least 24 houses were swept away in the disaster.

Rescue teams recovered 20 bodies and saved three people before
the search was ended due to the dangerous terrain. (28/edt)