Hard rains flood Indonesia

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Torrential rains caused flooding in several parts of Indonesia on Wednesday, forcing thousands to evacuate their homes and killing three people on the tourist island of Bali. \nWater spilled over a dam in Northern Bali, sweeping three villagers to their deaths and triggering a landslide, said police spokesman Lt. Col. Yatim Suyatmon. Three other people are missing. \nIn the capital, at least 13 people died during the weekend as a result of the floods. \nIndonesia is entering its rainy season. Officials have forecast regular downpours until the end of February. \nEnvironment Minister Nabiel Makarim, whose office in central Jakarta was also inundated, said waters had reached 5 feet in some districts as rivers burst their banks in the city of 11 million people. \nThe Indonesian army has dispatched 300 rubber dinghies to worst-affected districts, many of which were cut off by rising waters, he said. \nThousands of people were forced to head to mosques and schools on higher ground while dozens of houses in poor districts close to rivers were washed away, witnesses said. Officials said tens of thousands of homes were flooded. \nIn West Kalimantan, rising waters have inundated 20 schools and left 3,000 people temporarily homeless, state news agency Antara reported. \nLarge parts of East Java, including the provincial capital Surabaya, were also under water, the agency said.