Search for flood victims resumes

MEDAN, North Sumatra: Search and rescue workers on Friday resumed their efforts to locate dozens of people who had gone missing in the flash flood that wiped out a popular resort in North Sumatra province on Nov. 2, Antara reported.

"Beginning today (Friday), we resume our search for the missing people after a break on the occasion of the Idul Fitri festivities," Jaya Sitepu, head of the Bahorok subdistrict administration, told the news agency.

He said the resumption of the operation began in the morning and had focused on the left and right banks of the Bahorok river near the Bukit Lawang tourist resort.

But by the end of the day the search and rescue workers came home empty handed.

The flash flood killed at least 157 people, including six foreign tourists, while 82 others were missing. At least 400 homes, 35 hotels and tens of hectares of farmland were destroyed.

The Bukit Lawang tourist resort is also known for its orangutan rehabilitation center. -- Antara