LANDSLIDES, MUD FLOODS HIT GARUT, WEST JAVA

Garut, Indonesia, Oct. 27 (ANTARA) - Landslides and mud floods hit Garut District, West Java, on Monday, destroying two houses, seriously damaging another and burying seven goats to death.

The disaster, which nearly claimed lives at Babakan Kadu village, Cilawu sub district, was triggered by incessant heavy rains, according to Cilawu Sub District Head Engkus Kusmayadi, here on Monday.

The village was located on a mountain slope of above 30 degrees, he said. A number of local residents were forced to flee their homes to safer areas as their belongings were submerged in the floodwaters.

As the rainy season just began, floods were currently hitting several Indonesian provinces of Sulawesi, Kalimantan and Sumatra.

Dr Rustam S Pakaya, head of the health ministry's Crisis Control Center (PPK), said here on Monday so far two residents were killed and more than 100 injured due to the disaster.

In North Sumatra Province, two persons were killed and 91 injured in the flood disaster, he said.

Floods in West Kalimantan and West Sulawesi Provinces did not claim any lives, he said.

In Central Sulawesi Province, some 18 people were injured, and one resident was reported missing in Gorontalo Province, he said.