Indonesia landslide death toll Hits 51

At least 51 people are said to have died from a mudslide that swamped Jemblung village in Indonesia with more than 50 people still missing.

The landslide, which happened on Friday have had hundreds of rescuers digging through mud and wreckage, searching for survivors.

The operation was stopped on Monday as more rain prompted fears of another landslide. Rescue operations are due to resume again on Tuesday.

“We hope and pray that we can rescue some of the missing but the chances are slim,”Agus Haryono, a local search and rescue chief said.

Joko Widodo, Indonesian President, visited the scene at the weekend and urged authorities to speed up rescue efforts.

The search has been hindered by heavy rain and difficulty accessing the disaster site. At least 11 people were seriously injured and hundreds of others evacuated.

Flash floods and fatal landslides triggered by seasonal downpours are common in Indonesia. Authorities say around half the population about 125 million is at risk from landslides.