15 dead in Indonesia flash floods

Fifteen people have been killed and one person is missing after flash floods in a village in eastern Indonesia, sending residents fleeing their homes, an official said today.

Fifteen people have been killed and one person is missing after flash floods in a village in eastern Indonesia, sending residents fleeing their homes, an official said on Thursday.

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Toianas sub-district chief David Kase said the flash floods hit the village in East Nusa Tenggara province on Wednesday after an hour of intense rainfall.

"Fifteen people were killed by the flash floods, and one person is missing," Kase said.

"The people here, with the help of several police and military members, are still searching for the missing person."

Kase said about 200 residents of the village have temporarily left their houses and moved to higher ground for fear of more flooding.

At least 148 people were killed after flash floods smashed through Teluk Wondama district in Papua last month.

Floods and landslides are common in Indonesia, which is prone to frequent heavy rain.