JAKARTA, March 27 (RIA Novosti) - Rescuers recovered
at least 50 bodies on Friday after a dam burst flooding a
populated area on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital,
dozens of others are reported missing, the Jakarta Post said.
The 10-meter-high dam, built decades ago, collapsed in the
suburb of Cirendu, southwest of Jakarta, at 2:00 a.m. while
most people slept, the newspaper said. The tragedy is believed
to have been caused by heavy rains.
Authorities fear that the death toll will rise as hundreds
of homes are reported to be submerged. Earlier reports said 32
people had died.
The head of the Health Ministry's Crisis Center, Rustam
Pakaya, said more than 400 houses were under water. Hundreds of
people were forced to flee their homes and take shelter. In
some areas, the water level reached six meters (20 feet).
"It was like a tsunami," a local resident said.
News
