An Indonesian rescuer carries an elderly woman to safety following a landslide in Gowa after heavy rains and strong winds pounded the southern part of Sulawesi Island on Jan. 25. (Photo by Yusuf Wahil/AFP)
Catholics in Indonesia are rushing aid to victims of floods and landslides in South Sulawesi province that have killed dozens of people and displaced thousands over the last week.
At least, 68 people were reported dead and 6,700 others were made homeless, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, said on Jan. 27.
The disaster, thought to be the worst in decades, has badly affected 12 districts across Sulawesi province, destroyed about 550 houses and submerged about 5,100 others.
The flooding has also damaged scores of schools, places of worship and bridges, while 13,000 hectares of agricultural land were also badly hit, Nugroho said.
A search was on for seven people reported missing after a dam overflowed, he said.
Martina Ella, coordinator of Caritas in Makassar Archdiocese, said it has distributed basic essentials such as food and was still collecting other aid items such as hygiene kits and clothing.
Irene Ambrat, a parish worker in Sudiang-Mandai, said many people on her area were forced to flee flooding brought about by three days of heavy rain.
“We've established an emergency station in the church compound to provide food and other basic needs,” she said.
Heavy rain and strong winds are continuing to lash South Sulawesi and other regions in Indonesia, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency.
Vice President Jusuf Kalla, who visited South Sulawesi on Jan. 26, blamed the landslides on deforestation and called on the environmental ministry to allocate funds for a reforestation program.
He said the government would pay compensation of up to 15 million rupiahs (US$1,065) per person to families of those who lost their lives in the disaster.