Indonesia flood toll rises

Bridges and roads were destroyed

More than 70 people are now known to have died on the Indonesian island of Nias after days of heavy rain triggered widespread floods and landslides.

Over 100 people are still unaccounted for on the island, where strong winds and thick fog have been hampering rescue and aid efforts.

The landslides struck last week at the popular surfing resort and caught most of the villagers off guard.

The death toll has been steadily rising as rescue workers find more bodies.

"A dozen more bodies have been discovered since yesterday (Saturday)," a disaster relief official said.

Police say the main concern is now starvation among stranded survivors.

Weather worry

Remote areas normally accessible by just one road have been left completely isolated, with bridges destroyed and roads under mud and water.

Indonesian troops are helping in the relief effort but officials said strong winds and thick fogs were hampering them.

The Antara news agency reported that a ship transporting relief material had suffered engine trouble and had to seek refuge halfway to Nias.

Hundreds of people die in flooding and landslides in Indonesia every year.

Environmental campaigners say that villagers and logging companies cutting down swathes of forests contribute to the problem.

Nias attracts hundreds of foreign tourists - mostly surfers from Australia and Japan - but officials said the tourists did not frequent the areas hit by the floods.