Landslides Trapped Cars in Bengkulu Highway

Bengkulu (Antara Bali) - Rain-triggered landslides blocked and trapped a number of cars  and motorcycles along a highway  between the districts of Bengkulu Utara and Lebong.

Heavy equipment had been brought in from both Bengkulu Utara and Lebong to remove the piles of earth and clear the provincial road, head of the Bengkulu public works service Azwar Boerhan said via telephone on Monday.

"Hopefully a number of cars including those of the chief of the Lebong district police  and district secretariat could move out from the places where they have been trapped since last night," Azwar said.

Heavy rain on Sunday afternoon until night caused the landslides in five locations along the highway, he said.

The piles of earth were as high as 2.5 to 3 meters on the road, but there was no report of casualty as the cars were located in safe places between the landslides.

"We are working hard with the help of local villagers to clear away the earth and rocks. I am here since last night," he said from a location of the landslides. (*/DWA)