Indonesia steps up flood relief

At least 105 people have died following days of heavy rains, and hundreds more are still missing.

In the worst-hit districts of Aceh and North Sumatra, villages have been inundated and residents stranded.

Flooding has also affected the southern states of Malaysia, where at least nine people have been killed.

In Johor state, there have been several reports that the rising waters have allowed dozens of crocodiles to escape from farms where they are bred for their meat and hides.

Return home

In Indonesia, more than 400,000 people are now estimated to have been displaced by the flooding.

Military helicopters have begun dropping emergency aid and medical teams to those still stranded.

Although water levels have now fallen, in many places roads and bridges have been swept away making evacuations difficult.

In others, landslides caused by the rains have blocked access routes.

As the waters have receded, villagers have begun returning to their homes now caked in thick mud to begin repairing the damage.

In the worst hit areas, officials say more than half the houses have been severely affected.

Flooding is an annual problem in Indonesia but the government says its effects are magnified by illegal logging which leaves residents unprotected.

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
BBC Indonesian service
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites