Death toll from Indonesia landslide rises to 61

The death toll in a mudslide in Indonesia’s Central Java province rose to 61 on Tuesday, while 47 people were still missing four days after the disaster, police said.

The District Police Chief, Wika Hardianto told newsmen.

The officials said that the landslide buried dozens of houses in Jemblung village of Banjarnegara district on Friday following days of heavy rain.

“Altogether 61 bodies have been retrieved.

“The chances are slim of finding more survivors,’’ Hardianto said.

According to the National Disaster Management Agency, landslides caused almost two-thirds of disaster-related deaths in Indonesia in 2014.

“No fewer than 41 million Indonesians are exposed to the danger of landslides and many have no means of protecting themselves,’’ he said.

(dpa/NAN)