LANDSLIDE DESTROYS 17 HOUSES IN EAST JAVA'S KEDIRI DISTRICT

Kediri, E Java, Feb 15 (Antara) - A landslide triggered by heavy rain has destroyed at least 17 houses in Blimbing village, Kediri district, East Java. "The rain which began to fall in the evening was very hard," head of the Blimbing village Juwahiri said on Sunday. Juwahiri said the landslide also cut off the road leading to the village. The landslide forced tens of people to evacuate to safer areas. "At that time I decided to take refuge. A few minutes after I left my house, it collapsed due to the landslide," housewife Suyati said. Suyati said she had no time to save her belongings. "All of my valuable items including certificates and clothes were buried in the landslide. Even I have been given clothes I am wearing now," she said. A landslide also hit the village late last year, leaving scores of houses damaged.(*)