2/2 © Reuters. A man with a helmet carries his goods through the water in an area affected by floods after heavy rains in Dili 2/2
JAKARTA (Reuters) – The death toll from floods and landslides triggered by tropical cyclone Seroja on a group of islands in southeastern Indonesia rose to at least 55, with 40 still missing, disaster agency BNPB said on Monday. . At least 400 people in the East Nusa Tenggara province, which comprises several islands, were evacuated after their homes were hit by flash floods, landslides and high winds amid heavy rains triggered by the cyclone, said the agency. Several bridges collapsed, trees fell and blocked some roads and at least one ship sank as the cyclone also caused high waves, complicating search and rescue operations, the BNPB said. “We are sending basic logistical necessities such as food, blankets and others,” said Raditya Jati, the agency spokesman. President Joko Widodo offered his condolences and urged residents to follow the instructions of field officers during extreme weather. “I have ordered that disaster relief efforts be carried out quickly and appropriately, for example, for the assistance of the health service, the availability of logistics and basic needs for the displaced and the repair of infrastructure. “he said in statements broadcast online. Local officials said the death toll had risen to more than 100, but BNPB said it could not confirm this. On Sunday, a Reuters witness reported three deaths in neighboring East Timor from a landslide outside its capital, Dili. There was no official death toll on Sunday. Cyclone Seroja hit the Savu Sea southwest of the island of Timor in the early hours of Monday, the Indonesian weather agency said, warning that it could bring even more rain, waves and winds. Extreme weather in the Nusa Tenggara area has obstructed the distribution of petroleum fuel there, the state energy company Pertamina said, with a gas station, a kerosene store and four flooded tank cars. Pertamina has alerted fuel terminals on nearby islands to support fuel supply to the affected region, it said.
