Perilous
Times and Climate Change
Indonesia: Death toll from massive storms rises to 14
From correspondents in Jakarta
AFP
January 29, 2012 5:19PM
THE death toll from heavy rains and strong winds in Indonesia has
risen to 14, an official said today, with the victims of a
tropical cyclone crushed by falling trees.
"In total, 14 people died, 60 people were injured," National
Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in
a text message to AFP.
"The 14 killed were crushed by falling trees."
More than 2300 houses in 35 districts and cities across Java and
Bali were also damaged due to heavy rains in the past four days,
Nugroho said.
The "massive" rainstorms were brought about by Tropical Cyclone
Iggy in the Indian Ocean, south of Bali and the nearby Nusa
Tenggara islands, he added.
"But now the Tropical cyclone Iggy has weakened and it's moving
away from Indonesia," the official added.
Last week the Jakarta Globe reported a ferry carrying more than
200 people, including five Australians, heading to the Gili
islands off Lombok nearly capsized after being caught in waves up
to three metres high, but there were no casualties.
Storms, landslides and floods are common in Indonesia during the
annual rainy season, which peaks between December and February.