Landslide flattens hundreds of houses

BOGOR: Hundreds of houses and many hectares of crops were destroyed by a landslide in Sukamakmur subdistrict, Bogor regency, on Thursday.

The subdistrict chief, Dadang, said on Friday that the landslide, which was caused by incessant heavy rain since Tuesday, also flattened a number of public facilities, including five mosques and the Gunung Batu 1 elementary school.

Hundreds of residents had been forced to move into other residents' houses, while the students of the damaged school were being sent to the Sukawangi 1 and Sukawangi 2 elementary schools.

Bogor regency spokesman Sjahuri said that the natural disaster had inflicted financial losses of more than Rp 4 billion. But so far no fatalities had been reported.

According to Sjahuri, the local administration would set up a camp to accommodate the landslide victims for up to six months before they were relocated to a new settlement.

"We have to survey the area first and then decide which location will be safe for them," he said.--JP