Death toll of Indonesia's floods climbs to 144, 103 still missing

The number of casualty in flash floods in West Papua in easternmost of Indonesia on Oct. 4 has risen to 144 people with 103 missing persons feared dead, official said here Monday.

The floods in Wasior town of Teluk Wondama have seriously wounded 182 people and left 535 other suffering from light injury, spokesman of the National Disaster and Mitigation Management Agency Hartje Robert said.

"It is a miracle if those go missing can survive at this time," he told Xinhua.

The authorities would decide whether to continue the search within two days, he said.

According to the procedure the search can be ended after the seventh day.

The mud floods have internally displaced 4,375 people, whom have taken shelters at Nabire, Manokwari and Teluk Wondama, he said.

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono plans to visit the scene on Wednesday, according to official from the Presidential Office.

Relief emergency aid have been channelled faster as the airport has resumed operation, the aid is also sent through waters, officials said.

Source: Xinhua