Indonesia flood death toll increasing

Jakarta: At least 80 people have been killed after floods and landslides battered Indonesia's Aceh and North Sumatra provinces, forcing tens of thousands to escape to higher ground, authorities said on Monday.

Aceh was the hardest hit region with the head of social affairs quoting the death toll at 42. In neighbouring North Sumatra province, officials said 17 people had been killed and almost 50,000 were displaced after flood waters submerged their homes in water.

Another 21 in the province's Muarasipongi district were killed by landslides triggered by the rains.

Authorities, who expect the death toll to rise, blame deforestation and the rains for the devastation caused.

Aceh was hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004, which left some 170,000 dead or missing in the region.