Four killed in natural disasters

At least four people were killed and more than 60 houses were destroyed in floods and landslides, which hit a number of villages in Sangihe-Talaud regency, North Sulawesi, early on Saturday. Local people have stopped their daily activities to help the victims and search for those who have gone missing.

Many are feared dead.

It has been difficult to receive detailed information on the disasters because the telephone lines to the two islands, which are on the border with the Philippines, have gone dead. Until Saturday evening, however, ongoing heavy downpours were still reported in the regency. --JP