Papua death toll rises and 4000 evacuated after Sentani floods

The death toll from flash floods in Indonesia's Papua region has risen to 77.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency says 70 people were killed by landslides in Jayapura regency and seven others died from floods in Jayapura city.

Rescue teams are searching for 43 people still missing.

More than 4000 people have been evacuated to six locations and more than 11,000 families have been affected by the flash flooding.

According to reports, the disaster management agency has attributed the floods to deforestation and encroachment on a nature reserve in the Cyclops mountains over the past 15 years.

A spokesperson, quoted by Indonesia's Tempo news agency, said the flooding, in the Sentani region of Jayapura regency, was triggered by extreme rainfall and forest damage.

A month's worth of normal rainfall fell in the space of seven hours at the weekend.

More than 2000 hectares of rain catchment area has been cleared for development, the spokesman said.

Dobonsolo, Doyo Baru, and Hinekombe districts in Jayapura's Sentani region are reported to be the worst affected.

Clean water, food needed after flooding in Papua

Meanwhile, clean water, food and blankets are among pressing needs in the flood affected areas.

At least 68 people have died after heavy rain at the weekend triggered floods and landslides around the provincial capital Jayapura.

Rosemarie North of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said teams had been going out to assess the needs of displaced people and deliver emergency help.

She said medical care, sleeping mats, and hygiene items like soap, towels and toothbrushes are also needed.

She said, Lake Sentani which is 20 kilometres from Jayapura had risen flooding surrounding villages.

The Red Cross said it was a worrying situation for people around the lake and in many other areas because the rain is still falling.