Bangkok
28 March 2009
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| Indonesian resident and rescue teams search for victims from a house swept by flash flood after a dam burst in Jakarta, 28 Mar 2009 |
The death toll from a dam that broke near the Indonesian capital and flooded a suburb continues to rise. Authorities are now saying at least 77 people were killed by the flood waters and dozens more are still missing.
Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers dug through mud and debris Saturday looking for signs of survivors and recovering more bodies.
Flood waters from the dam that broke early Friday morning near Jakarta have largely receded, but dozens of people are still missing and feared dead.
Hundreds of houses were flattened and flooded by the two million cubic meters of water that ripped through the Dutch-colonial era dam.
The violent flow of water killed many while they slept and sent residents in the crowded suburb scrambling for the rooftops.
This survivor lost at least two relatives in the floods and has two brothers and two other family members still missing.
Days of torrential rains and a lack of maintenance were blamed for the earthen dam breaking.
Critics say authorities should have warned residents of the danger.
Indonesian authorities have promised to help residents rebuild their homes.
Indonesia often suffers from deadly floods and landslides made worse by poor infrastructure and planning.
The Indonesian capital is no exception. At least 40 people drowned in Jakarta in 2007 from flooding.