Floods, landslides, kill dozens in Indonesia

Flash floods unleashed by torrential heavy rains early on Sunday killed 23 people on Indonesia’s island of Flores, injuring nine more, while five went missing, as the tiny neighboring nation of East Timor reported three deaths.

At least 49 families were hit on the island in the east of Indonesia’s sprawling archipelago, Raditya Jati, a spokesman for disaster management agency BNPB, said in a statement.

“Dozens of houses were buried in mud in Lamanele village... residents’ houses washed away by the flood,” Raditya said, referring to the eastern part of Flores.

On Adonara island to the east of Flores, a bridge collapsed, and rescuers were battling heavy rain, strong wind, and waves, he added.

In neighboring East Timor, a two-year-old child was among at least three people killed in a landslide on the outskirts of the capital, Dili, a Reuters witness said, although there was no official toll of casualties or deaths.