Death toll hits four in South Sulawesi landslide

Death toll hits four in South Sulawesi landslide

SINJAI, South Sulawesi (JP): The death toll rose to four from
the landslide on early Wednesday in Pattiro hamlet in West Sinjai
district after locals and rescue workers found two more bodies on
Thursday and Friday.

The bodies were of Nija, 42, and his wife Pole, relief workers
said. They added Nija's body was found near the Tangka river,
some three kilometers away from the hamlet on Thursday afternoon,
and Pole's body was found on Friday morning.

Workers also said at least another couple and their five
children were still missing. They are Jamari, 47, his wife Cece,
40, and Hasri, 15, Hasna, 13, Cika, 5, Keke, 3, and Sanneng, 2.

The first two victims -- Jamari and Cece's daughter Cika and
Pole and Nija's son Iwan -- were discovered on Wednesday.

Rescue team coordinator Diming told The Jakarta Post the
search and rescue operation, which began on Thursday, would
continue for a week.

A hundred families were forced to evacuate the area for fear
of further landslides. Seven houses, 80 hectares of rice fields
and 80 hectares of chocolate and candlenut plantations were also
damaged in the landslide.

Officials said financial losses from the landslide were
estimated at Rp 4.6 billion (US$686,500).

Locals said so far no food and medical relief had reached the
villages, which are 100 kilometers east of the provincial capital
of Ujungpandang.

Landslides also occurred in the districts of Central Sinjai
and Bulupodo earlier this week, cutting off the road connecting
Sinjai and Manipi. No fatalities occurred in these landslides.

In Sinjai mayoralty and East Sinjai district, flood waters up
to two meters in height damaged hundreds of hectares of fish
ponds. Financial losses from the floods are estimated at Rp 3.25
billion.(27/byg)