Deadly Landslides Strike Indonesia

Heavy rainfall triggered landslides that struck two villages in the Tana Toraja regency in the South Sulawesi province.

The disaster struck two villages in the Tana Toraja regency of South Sulawesi province.

At least 20 people have been found dead and two more are missing after a landslide in central Indonesia, local authorities said.

Authorities had previously said 19 people were dead and two missing, but put the final toll at 20.

The dead and two survivors were evacuated from two landslide-hit villages in Tana Toraja regency, South Sulawesi province, said local disaster agency head Sulaiman Malia.

"There have been 20 fatalities, with 4 deaths in South Makale and 15 others in Makale villages," Malia said.

"Currently, we are still searching for other victims," he said, adding that there are still two individuals reported missing, presumably buried under the landslide debris.

Tana Toraja and its surrounding areas have been "continuously hit by heavy rainfall, especially over the past week, with hardly any stop", Malia added.

The heavy rainfall eroded the soil of residential areas located on mountain slopes, leading to landslides that buried residents' homes, he said.

Rescuers had been searching for two last missing persons whose bodies were located, a three-year-old toddler and her 43-year-old mother.

Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season and the problem has been aggravated in some places by deforestation, with prolonged torrential rain causing flooding in some areas of the archipelago nation.

Last month flash floods and landslides on Sumatra island killed at least 30 people with scores still missing.

A landslide and flooding swept away dozens of houses and destroyed a hotel near Lake Toba on Sumatra in December, killing at least two people.