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Indonesia dam burst kills dozens Indonesia dam burst kills dozens
(40 minutes later)
A dam has burst south-west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, killing dozens of people. A dam has burst south-west of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, killing at least 50 people.
Witnesses said a "horrifying" flash flood engulfed hundreds of homes in Cirendeu in the Tangerang district. Witnesses said a "horrifying" flash flood of water up to 4m (13ft) deep engulfed hundreds of homes in Cirendeu in the Tangerang district.
Officials say about 50 bodies have been found but the death toll is expected to rise as many more people are missing. Officials say they expect the death toll to rise.
It is not clear what caused the burst but an official said the Situ Gintung lake behind the dam became overloaded after hours of heavy rain. It is not clear what caused the dam to burst, but an official said the Situ Gintung lake behind the dam became overloaded after hours of heavy rain.
The incident happened at about 0200 local time (1900GMT) in the popular tourist area. Thick mud is hampering rescue teams, but the waters have now begun to recede.
Cars were swept away and telephone lines toppled by the surge of water laden with debris. The incident happened at about 0200 local time (1900GMT) in what is a popular tourist area.
"People were still sleeping and couldn't do anything," local official Danang Susanto told the AFP news agency.
In pictures: Dam burst In pictures: Dam burst
"Many people are still trapped and the rescue is ongoing. We've sent out 10 rubber boats to evacuate the victims." A surge of water laden with debris slammed into the suburb of small, poorly built houses, sweeping away cars and toppling telephone lines.
He said there had been heavy wind and rain overnight with many trees uprooted. "People were still sleeping and couldn't do anything," local official Danang Susanto told the AFP news agency.
"Many people are still trapped and the rescue is ongoing."
Television footage showed rescue workers wading through deep water and bodies being pulled from the mud.Television footage showed rescue workers wading through deep water and bodies being pulled from the mud.
Vice-President Yusuf Kalla and Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie had visited the scene of the disaster, Indonesia's Metro TV reported. The authorities have sent 150 body bags.
"We will provide emergency help to the victims. For those whose homes were destroyed, the government will help with the repairs," Mr Kalla was quoted as saying. Local media said Indonesia's President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was planning to travel to the scene of the disaster.
The decades-old dam had been holding back a lake of about 2m cubic metres of water. Vice-President Yusuf Kalla and Welfare Minister Aburizal Bakrie have already visited.
"We will provide emergency help to the victims. For those whose homes were destroyed, the government will help with the repairs," Mr Kalla told Metro TV.
SirensSirens
Resident Hamdani said the dam broke after the morning call to prayer. The decades-old dam had been holding back a lake of about 2m cubic metres of water.
"I took all my family out of the house and I saw my neighbour with his pregnant wife drifting away. They asked for help but the water was so fast," he said. One resident said the dam broke after the morning call to prayer.
"I took all my family out of the house and I saw my neighbour with his pregnant wife drifting away. They asked for help but the water was so fast," Hamdani said.
Another resident, Seto Mulyadi, said he heard a siren from the dam before water crashed into his house, breaking through all the windows and doors and leaving water 2.5m (8ft) deep.Another resident, Seto Mulyadi, said he heard a siren from the dam before water crashed into his house, breaking through all the windows and doors and leaving water 2.5m (8ft) deep.
"A flash flood came suddenly and was horrifying," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency."A flash flood came suddenly and was horrifying," he was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.
"My house in a dreadful mess. Thank God my family is safe.""My house in a dreadful mess. Thank God my family is safe."
One man told local media it had been "like being in a tsunami".One man told local media it had been "like being in a tsunami".
"People were screaming 'the water's coming in, the water's coming in,' and our dog was barking," a person identified as Minu told Detikcom news website. "People were screaming 'the water's coming in, the water's coming in,' and our dog was barking," a local resident told Detikcom news website.
"I could hear our door being pounded on and I wondered who could it be, but it was the water.""I could hear our door being pounded on and I wondered who could it be, but it was the water."
Rustam Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry Crisis Centre, said people in the area were being evacuated to higher ground.Rustam Pakaya, head of the Health Ministry Crisis Centre, said people in the area were being evacuated to higher ground.
"About half of them are still on rooftops waiting for help," he said."About half of them are still on rooftops waiting for help," he said.
South Jakarta Police chief Makmur Simbolon told the Associated Press news agency that it was not yet known what had caused the failure of 10m (32ft) dam. South Jakarta Police chief Makmur Simbolon told AP that it was not yet known what had caused the failure of 10m (32ft) dam.
The BBC's Katherine Demopoulos in Jakarta says the city is prone to floods and has an ageing, poorly-maintained drainage system which struggles to cope with heavy rainfall. The BBC's Katherine Demopoulos in Jakarta says the city is prone to floods and has an ageing, poorly maintained drainage system which struggles to cope with heavy rainfall.
In 2007, floods in the capital left more than 50 people dead.In 2007, floods in the capital left more than 50 people dead.
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