TERRA.WIRE
Flash flood in Indonesia's Sumatra island kills 37
JAKARTA (AFP) Nov 03, 2003
 A flash flood triggered by heavy rain killed 37 people in Indonesia's North Sumatra province early Monday, a spokeswoman for the provincial government said.

The spokeswoman, Darmiati, told AFP a river swelled following heavy overnight rain in the Bukit Lawang area 96 km (60 miles) northwest of Medan city.

The official Antara news agency said 72 residents were swept away by the flash flood which hit the town of Bohorok and phone lines were down in the area. It said five bodies have been found so far.

Eddi Sofian, another provincial spokesperson, told Detikcom online news service that five of the 37 dead were foreigners. No details were immediately available.

He said rescuers deployed Monday to the Bohorok area are focusing their search along the riverbank.

Detikcom said about 43,000 people live in Bohorok in the Bukit Lawang area, which is on the eastern fringes of the Gunungg Leuser national park. Bohorok is the home of a famed orang-utan rehabilitation centre, which is popular with tourists.

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