Death toll rises to 26 in Indonesia floods, landslides

By Riyaz ul Khaliq </p> <p>ANKARA (AA) – Death toll has risen to 26 after torrential rains triggered massive landslides in central Indonesia, local media reported Thursday.</p> <p>According to local news agency Antara, rains hit at least ten districts in the south of Sulawesi Island, including provincial capital Makassar of South Sulawesi province.</p> <p>Thousands of people were stuck in the region and evacuated from their homes, it added.</p> <p>The news agency said that floods and landslides left 26 people, including two infants, dead and 24 others missing.</p> <p>At least 3,914 families were affected and over 3,000 people are living in temporary shelters while 46 others were admitted to local health facilities for treatment, the daily said.</p> <p>The floods and landslides damaged houses, government buildings, schools, and bridges, according to the reports. </p> <p>An official from Indonesia’s National Agency for Disaster Management said the search and rescue mission is underway to trace the missing victims. </p> <p>Landslides and flooding are common in Indonesia, especially during the monsoon season between October and April, when rain lashes the vast tropical archipelago.