Floods, landslides, dozens of deaths in Indonesia and East Timor

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At least 49 families were affected in Flores, in the east of Indonesia’s vast archipelago, Raditya Jati, a BNPB spokesman said in a statement.

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

On Adonara Island east of Flores, a bridge collapsed and rescue workers had to contend with heavy rains, high winds and waves, he added.

Residents inspect damage in a village hit by flash flooding in East Flores, Indonesia
In neighboring East Timor, a two-year-old child was one of at least three people killed in a landslide on the outskirts of the capital, Dili said, a Reuters witness said, though there was no official toll of casualties or deaths.

“Heavy rains and overflowing water have drowned people’s homes and also claimed the lives of several victims,” ​​the Deputy Prime Minister of East Timor said in a statement.

“There are roads that have collapsed, trees have fallen and it is difficult to access some areas,” he said, calling the incident the worst in East Timor in 40 years.

Debris left in the town of Adonara in East Flores

Power went out and the presidential palace was flooded as heavy rains and high winds hit Dili since late Saturday.

Civil defense officials in East Timor could not be immediately reached for comment. Social media posts showed collapsed buildings and vehicles submerged by flash flooding.

The Indonesian Weather Bureau said a tropical cyclone was approaching the Strait of Savu between the southern part of Nusa Tenggara province and East Timor’s north coast, warning it could bring even more rain, waves and wind.

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