Jakarta, Mar 13 : The death toll from floods and landslides in the Indonesian province of West Sumatra has risen to 32, the country’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported on Tuesday.

According to the agency, five of the province’s 12 regencies had declared a state of disaster emergency as more than 1,500 houses, over 50 worship centers and over 10 roads were damaged by floods and landslides.

Triggered by torrential rain, floods and landslides hit West Sumatra last Thursday, forcing over 70,000 residents to flee to safer places.

Indonesia frequently experiences hydrometeorological disasters during the rainy season.

UNI