JAKARTA, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government on Thursday distributed 1.3 billion rupiah (about 99,251 U.S. dollars) in financial support for victims of recent flash floods and landslides in West Java.
"We're working together to help the victims. Relocating them must be carried out immediately," the president's chief of staff, Teten Masduki, said in an official statement.
In addition to that, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency has sent 2 billion rupiah worth of logistics and aid to the area, while the government has set aside up to 14 billion rupiah for emergency response operations, reports said.
Torrential rain on Tuesday caused landslides and floods hitting the Garut area, about 200 kilometres southeast of the capital, Jakarta, killing 23 people while 18 others are still missing.
Indonesian search and rescue teams were dispatched on Wednesday and have been scouting the area and evacuating about 1,000 residents.
Flash floods and landslides are common disasters in Indonesia, due to heavy rains, particularly during rainy season.
