Landslides, floods kill 13 in Indonesia

At least 13 people have been killed and hundreds forced to leave their homes after landslides and floods triggered by torrential rain hit Indonesia.

According to disaster official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, flooding and landslides battered North Sulawesi province’s capital city Manado early Sunday, causing mud and rocks to flow down hills.

Ten people were killed and about 1,200 others prompted to flee to temporary shelters, Nugroho stated.

The official added that flooding struck over 1,000 houses after a river burst its banks due to downpours.

Meanwhile, local authorities said that on Saturday three people, including two teenagers, lost their lives in Jambi province on Sumatra island, when floodwaters swept them away.

“Several days of heavy rains caused a river to break its banks and flood smaller waterways. The boys were taken away by strong currents as they were bathing in a waterway,” local disaster official Dalmanto said.

Floods and landslides have repeatedly battered Indonesia in recent years during its wet season.

Earlier in January some 32 people were killed in the capital Jakarta due to heavy rains that caused flooding.