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340,000 homeless in Indonesia floods

Jakarta - Many flee their homes
Jakarta - Many flee their homes

Massive floods in and around the Indonesian capital have forced nearly 340,000 people to flee their homes.

Health ministry figures showed 18 people killed in the floods with two others missing.

The victims died because of disease, cold, electrocution or were swept away by the floods.

Officials say the city of 12m people is now on its highest level of alert.

The floods are said to be the worst in the city in five years.

Rivers burst their banks, sending muddy water up to 3m deep into residential and commercial areas.

The water is heavily polluted and, with a recent outbreak of dengue fever, there is concern about the spread of more disease.