Foreign tourists are believed to be among more than 70 people who have been killed by flash floods in Indonesia.
The floods swept through one of the country’s biggest national parks, the Gunung Leuser park on Sumatra island. According to The Independent newspaper, the swollen Bahorok river broke its banks and swept away many buildings, including guest houses catering for backpackers and local tourists.
The newspaper reports that at least 67 bodies have been recovered, and that four foreigners had been identified; a German woman, an Austrian woman, a Singaporean man and a Swiss man.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at www.fco.gov.uk/travel, which is, of course, still advising against all non-essential travel to Indonesia because of “a high terror threat”, warns: “Because of flash flooding in the district of Lankat near Medan on 2 November we are currently advising against all travel to Northern Sumatra. Latest reports are that the floods have killed at least 77 people.”
