6 Oct 2010

Flooding leaves 56 people dead in Indonesia's West Papua province

5:39 am on 6 October 2010

At least 56 people have been killed and 24 remain missing after flash floods in a remote region of Indonesia's West Papua province.

A disaster management official says about 80 people have been seriously injured and most of them have been flown to hospitals in neighbouring districts.

Authorities believe the death toll will increase.

They say communication lines have been cut off and roads to the affected areas are blocked by fallen trees after torrential downpours.

The National Search and Rescue Agency has dispatched a 12-man team with a 150-seat rescue boat to the area.

Relief teams have also been deployed to deliver relief goods to people, many of whom are displaced, in the hardest-hit areas.