77 dead, scores missing after dam bursts

Soldiers and police dug through piles of mud and debris today in a desperate search for survivors after a flood from a burst dam killed at least 77 people outside Indonesia’s capital, Jakarta. But they were losing hope the 100 still missing would be found alive.

Days of torrential downpours filled a large lake bordering the low-lying residential area of Cirendeu to flood level. A huge section of the Dutch colonial-era dike tore away before dawn on Friday, sending more than 70 million cubic feet (2 million cubic meters) of water gushing through the gaping hole.