Death toll in Flores floods, landslides reaches 56

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara

The death toll from floods and landslides in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara has risen to 56 people, while 28 others are still unaccounted for, a local government official said on Saturday.

East Nusa Tenggara spokesman Johanis Bastian Kosapilawan said in the provincial capital of Kupang that 31 people had been found dead in Ende regency, 15 in Sikka and 10 in the East Flores regency.

The floods and landslides have also destroyed 168 houses in East Flores and severely damaged another 152 structures. The disasters, which struck the island of Flores last Monday, also destroyed crops and swept away cattle belonging to local residents.

Floods and landslides have killed more than 100 people in several parts of Indonesia since the rainy season began in November. A lot of the flooding has been blamed on deforestation caused by rampant illegal logging.

Meanwhile, search and rescue teams continued on Saturday to look for the 28 missing, while hopes of finding them alive quickly diminished.

Rescue operation officials said 18 of the missing people were in Ende regency, eight in Sikka and two others in East Flores.

The head of the Ndona district in Ende regency, Gerardus Kando, said on Saturday that a severe shortage of proper equipment was hampering search and rescue operations.

"Despite the lack of equipment, we are continuing the search. To date, 18 residents in the Ndona district are still unaccounted for," Gerardus told The Jakarta Post from Ende, Flores.

Floods and landslides have buried public facilities, including churches and schools, in the three regencies.

Kosapilawan said total material losses in the East Flores regency had reached Rp 50 billion (US$5.88 million).

The East Flores administration is continuing to distribute aid to flood victims in Larantuka, the capital of the regency. The local administration has also prepared land for the resettlement of flood and landslide victims.

Flores Timor deputy regent John Payong Beda said on Saturday that the local administration was expecting donations from other regencies.

Local legislative council member Yosua Mooy, however, warned the local administration of possible irregularities during the distribution of aid.

Meanwhile, Antara reported on Saturday that the East Nusa Tenggara administration had distributed 25 tons of rice to areas hit by floods.

The central government, through Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Jusuf Kalla, has donated Rp 500 million. The local chapter of the ruling party, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), has also donated Rp 35 million while media tycoon Surya Paloh has donated Rp 300 million.

Despite the destruction and fatalities brought on by the floods and landslides, East Flores Regent Felix Fernandez said on Saturday that he was planning to organize a church service for Good Friday, which falls on April 18.

"We won't let the floods affect us. Church services to observe Good Friday will proceed as usual," Felix said.

Almost 80 percent of the population in Flores is Catholic.

Felix said communities, the military and police officers would all lend a hand to clear away the rubble, mud and gravel from roads and residential areas.

Flores has been hit by a series of disasters over the years, including an earthquake in 1992 that killed 2,500 people.