Caritas joins rescue efforts in Indonesia after cyclone disaster
Devastating floods and landslides triggered by cyclone Seroja, which struck a cluster of islands in south-east Indonesia and in Timor-Leste on Easter Sunday, have killed at least 120 people. Caritas and other agencies have swung into action to reach the survivors.
By Robin Gomes
Caritas Indonesia has joined the government, the United Nations and other agencies in reaching out to the affected people following the disaster caused by a cyclone in the southeast of the nation on Easter Sunday.
Floods and landslides
Rescuers were searching for dozens of people still missing on Tuesday after floods and landslides swept away villages in eastern Indonesia and the neighbouring Catholic-majority nation of Timor-Leste or East Timor. At least 120 have been reported dead in the two countries with thousands displaced.
Scores dead in Indonesia, Timor-Leste floods
Bad weather is hampering Caritas efforts to deliver aid to victims
Debris left behind in the town of Adonara in East Flores on April 4 after flash floods and landslides swept eastern Indonesia and neighboring Timor-Leste. (Photo: Joy Christian/AFP)
At least 160 people died in flash floods and landslides that struck Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province and Catholic-majority Timor-Leste on Easter Sunday, according to disaster management and church officials.
Dozens more were reported missing in the April 4 disaster which followed two days of heavy rain in the region.
At least 61 people lost their lives and more than 30 were missing on Adonara island in East Flores district, the East Flores Disaster Mitigation Agency said on April 5.