Three people killed in N. Sulawesi landslide

Three people killed in N. Sulawesi landslide

JAKARTA (JP): A landslide triggered by incessant rains claimed three lives, injured several people, and badly damaged 15 houses in Manado, North Sulawesi yesterday.

Antara reported that the rains also caused widespread flooding that submerged thousand of houses in three low-lying villages in Wenang and Molas districts.

Several thousand families had to be evacuated to safety as water levels in residential areas reached between 1.5 meters and two meters, the report said.

The evacuees were accommodated in village halls, clinics and their relatives' houses in other villages.

The landslide hit Ranomuut village worst; two people broke their legs and 15 houses were damaged.

The flooding and landslide were triggered by three days of heavy rains, which caused the Tondano, Kembes and Wanea rivers to overflow their banks.

It also destroyed a large number of fish ponds along the Tondano river. The local government is yet to estimate the losses caused by the natural disaster. (pan)