Slow-Paced Rescue for Landslide Victims

Villagers equipped only with poles searched for survivors beneath the rubble of their homes Thursday after torrential rains that triggered landslides and floods on a remote Indonesian island.

At least 35 people have died in the mountainous interior of Nias island, off the western coast of Sumatra island. About 200 villagers were still missing, officials said.

Rescue attempts on the island have been hampered by blocked roads, poor communication and disorganization. There was no heavy lifting equipment.

Initially, officials had reported that more than 60 people had died, but they later scaled back the figure. However, authorities--unable to reach many of the villages--feared the death toll would rise over the next few days.

Government official Herlan Tandjung said rescuers had reached more than 600 people who had been reported missing since floods triggered by days of heavy rain hit the island Tuesday.

“We are still looking for the missing people,” said a local police chief, Muhammad Nainggolan. “We hope they are not buried alive.”

There was no reaction to the disaster from political leaders in Jakarta, the capital, who were occupied in horse-trading for positions in the Cabinet of new President Megawati Sukarnoputri.

Flood waters have washed away roads and covered the southwest of the island. A major river burst its banks, and landslides flattened trees and scarred hillsides.

In Sehareu village, 50 miles south of the island’s main town, Gunungsitoli, dozens of barefoot villagers dug away at the remains of their houses.

“We were sleeping in the house when water and mud started flooding in,” Wati Hulu said in the ruins of her house. “I grabbed my children and we ran for our lives.”

At least 1,500 people have been left homeless by the floods.

Nias has only a small airstrip, and access by boat from Sumatra takes at least eight hours.