Indonesia flood deaths rises to 97

Indonesia: The death toll from flash floods in a remote region of eastern Indonesia has climbed to at least 97 with dozens of people still missing, an official said Thursday.

Rescue workers were still searching for survivors from floods which hit West Papua province's Teluk Wondama district on Monday following torrential downpours, a rescue official said.

"At least 97 people were killed and more than 800 people were lightly and badly injured," Papua search and rescue official Mochamad Arifin told AFP.

"We are still searching for dozens of missing people," he said. Those killed had reportedly drowned and been swept away by the powerful waters along with uprooted trees, rocks and debris.

Experts warned such events will become more common in the archipelago due to a combination of climate change, land conversion and logging, which can contribute to landslides and flash floods after monsoonal downpours.

Indonesia's climatology agency said most parts of Indonesia had experienced torrential rains, strong winds, high waves and flooding due to extreme weather this year. Jakarta, AFP