2nd LD: Five killed, 2 missing, over 4,000 displaced as landslides, floods hit West Sumatra, Indonesia

Landslides and floods in West Sumatra province of Indonesia have left five people dead, two people missing and forced over 4,000 others to flee homes, head of provincial disaster agency official said on Monday.

Days of heavy downpours have triggered bank of the rivers bloated in some districts and inundated the area, head of West Sumatatra Disaster Management Agency named only Zulfiatno said.

"In Solok district, four bodies have been discovered and two others are being searched. In Limapuluh Koto district, the body of a youngster was found," he told Xinhua by phone from the province.

The floods and land landslides have wreaked havoc in Solok city and the districts of Solok Selatan, Limapuluh Kota and Agam, the official said.

"As many as 5,000 to 6,000 people have been affected by the floods and over 4,000 of them have taken shelters at higher grounds,"Zulfiatno revealed.

The natural disasters have destroyed a bridge and blocked roads to neighboring provinces, he said.

Besides, over 100 hectares paddy rice field were inundated with waters.

Soldiers, police, the Red Cross and those from the local disaster management agency and search and rescue agency have carried out emergency relief efforts, spokesman of National Disaster Management Agency Sutopo Purwo Nugroho told Xinhua by phone.

Seasonal downpours often trigger floods each year in Indonesia, a chain of 17,500 islands. Endit