7 killed in Indonesian storms

Seven people were killed and 51 injured as heavy rains lashed Indonesia, bringing down trees and powerlines and damaging hundreds of homes, an official said Thursday. "Seven people died, 51 wounded and 1,012 houses were damaged in 23 districts and cities due to rainstorms on Wednesday," National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said via text message. "Those killed were crushed by falling trees." Rainstorms and strong winds were brought about by Tropical Cyclone Iggy in the Indian Ocean, south of the resort island of Bali and nearby Nusa Tenggara islands, Nugroho said. "Tropical cyclone Iggy resulted in wind speeds of more than 60 kilometres (37 miles) per hour and waves four-to-six metres (20 feet) high in the waters in several parts of Indonesia." The Jakarta Globe newspaper reported a ferry carrying more than 200 people, including five Australians, heading to the Gili islands off Bali nearly capsized after being caught in waves up to three metres high, but there were no casualties. Storms, landslides and floods are common in Indonesia during the annual rainy season, which peaks between December and February.