Children die in floods

AROUND THE WORLD

TORRENTIAL rains have triggered flash floods and landslides on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing at least 22 people - mostly children at a school, and leaving 15 others missing, officials said.

A flash flood with mud and debris from landslides struck Mandailing Natal district in North Sumatra province and smashed an Islamic school in Muara Saladi village, where 21 children were swept away on Friday afternoon, said local police chief Irsan Sinuhaji.

He said rescuers retrieved the bodies of 11 children from mud and rubble hours later.