6 dead, 3 missing as floods hit Indonesia’s Java island

Jakarta, Nov 5 (EFE).- At least six people have died and three remained missing Friday after being swept away by floods that hit the Indonesian city of Batu on the island of Java, rescue teams reported.

Another six people who were also swept away Thursday by the sudden rise in the waters have been found alive, the National Agency for Disaster Management said in its latest update.

The heavy rainfall in the area caused a river to overflow past noon Thursday and flooded the city of more than 200,000 inhabitants in East Java province.

The water current, which also affected five other small neighboring towns, dragged stones, trees and some buildings built near the banks of the Brantas river, the agency said.

Authorities deployed a search and rescue team for the missing, although the tasks are hampered by the storm that continues to affect the area.

Floods and landslides affect Indonesia every year during the rainy season, the peak of which is between December and February. EFE

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