Landslides kill 88 in Indonesia after torrential rains

JAKARTA, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- Days of torrential rain triggered landslides, killing up to 88 people till 21:00 local time in Central Java province of Indonesia on Wednesday, Antara news agency reported.

Out of the victims, 71 people were killed in Karanganyar district of the province, 17 were killed in regencies of Tirtomoyodan Manyaran of Wonogiri district. And thousands of houses were destroyed by the floods, said the report.

Hundreds of rescuers, using heavy machinery equipment and bare hands, are removing the rubbles of houses to find missing said the report.

Local people, together with policemen and soldiers, are evaluating affected people in several areas, but the works are very difficult as it is in the night, the report added.

Floods also hit Solo, causing 26,720 people from 5,344 families fled their home, said the report.

Indonesia has been frequently hit by flood and landslide due to lack of forest-covered areas, which could not hold excessive waters during heavy rains.

Activists have already warned that the forests in the area are under threat from large-scale forest destruction.

Indonesia, which is losing its forests at the world's fastest rate, is struggling to safe its rain-forest from deforestation.