Storm destroys houses

PURBALINGGA, C. Java: At least 38 houses, 3 mosques and 2 elementary school buildings were destroyed when a storm hit the Central Java regency of Purbalingga Friday.

The local natural disaster control service said the storm inflicted losses of tens of millions of rupiah but claimed no lives, Antara reported.

The storm also forced dozens of people outdoors over worries that their houses would collapse.

"Earlier, we were happy the long-awaited rains had come, but our happiness has turned into anxiety as many houses have collapsed one by one," a villager said.