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)