Indonesian flood death toll rises to 71

JAKARTA: The death toll from flash floods that devastated villages in Indonesia's East Java province has risen to 71, police said on Thursday.    

The search continues for victims of the floods that inundated four villages and destroyed hundreds of houses in Jember district, said Teduh Tedjo of the district police station. "We have so far recovered 71 bodies," Tedjo said.   

He said two helicopters moved villagers from inundated zones to safer places on Wednesday but the operation was halted after two transfers due to poor weather. More than 6,000 people have been displaced and sought refuge in government buildings and schools, the officer said.          

The floods swept away homes in Jember, 800 kilometres (500 miles) east of Jakarta, on Sunday night following two days of monsoon rains which caused a river to swell and burst its banks. Environmentalists partly blame deforestation for the tragedy.   

Severe flooding is not unusual during Indonesia's rainy season. More than 200 people were killed in 2003 when flash floods tore through Bahorok, a popular riverside resort in North Sumatra, destroying more than 450 buildings.