Thousands in shelters as Indonesia flood toll hits 53

Indonesian rescue teams flew helicopters stuffed with food to remote flood-hit communities yesterday as the death toll from the disaster jumped to 53 and fears grew about the possibility of more torrential rain.

Tens of thousands in Jakarta were still unable to return to their waterlogged homes after some of the deadliest flooding in years hit the enormous capital region, home to about 30 million.

In neighbouring Lebak, where half a dozen people died, police and military personnel dropped boxes of instant noodles and other supplies into remote communities inaccessible by road after bridges were destroyed.

“It’s tough to get supplies in there... and there are about a dozen places hit by landslides,” Banten police chief Tomsi Tohir told AFP.

“That is why we’re using helicopters although there aren’t any landing spots.”

Local health centre chief Suripto, who goes by one name, said injured residents were flowing into his clinic.

Around Jakarta, more than 170,000 people took refuge in shelters across the massive urban conglomeration after whole neighbourhoods were submerged.

Torrential rains that started on New Year’s Eve unleashed flash floods and landslides in the region and Lebak at the south end of Java island.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has announced a plan to move the country’s capital to Borneo island to take pressure off Jakarta, which suffers from some of the world’s worst traffic jams and is fast sinking due to excessive groundwater extraction.