Dam burst near Indonesian capital claims 58 lives

TORRENTIAL rain caused a colonial-era dam to burst outside the Indonesian capital early yesterday, sending a wall of muddy water crashing into a densely packed neighbourhood and killing at least 58 people.

The flood left scores missing and submerged hundreds of homes. Rescuers used rubber rafts to pluck bodies from streets that were transformed into rivers littered with motorcycles, chairs and other debris. With the death toll expected to rise, 100 body bags were delivered. “I’m devastated,” said one resident, named Cholik, 21, crying as he sat next to the body of his 54-year-old mother. His brother-in-law was also killed and his one-year-old niece was missing.

“I wasn’t home last night... I should have been there to save them,” he said.