Landslide in Indonesia kills at least 17; 41 missing

Jakarta: At least 17 people were killed and 41 are missing after landslides struck Indonesia's western province of Riau Islands on Wednesday.

On Monday, a natural catastrophe struck the Natuna Regency. According to Syariffuddin Muhammad, secretary of the Natuna crisis management and mitigation agency, heavy downpours were to blame for the catastrophe, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Six more bodies were found on Wednesday, so the total casualties reached 17," he said.

The search and rescue for the victims would continue. The disaster has forced over 1,000 residents to flee from their homes, said Syariffuddin.

With inputs from IANS