Wednesday December 26, 2007 5:31 AM

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - Hours of heavy rain triggered landslides
Wednesday that killed at least 51 people in western Indonesia, a rescue
official said.

The deaths occurred in several districts on the main island of Java
after more than 12 hours of nonstop rain, local search and rescue chief
Eko Prayitno said.

``At least 51 victims have been buried, but the numbers could still
rise,'' he said.

El-Shinta radio station put the death toll at 61, while Metro TV said 59
people had died.

Metro TV reported that rescue officials were trying to reach the
affected areas, 300 miles east of the capital Jakarta. The report said
there was little chance of getting heavy lifting equipment to the scenes
because of roads blocked by landslides.

Seasonal downpours cause dozens of landslides and flash floods each year
in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous regions and
near fertile flood plains close to rivers.

Some environmentalists and government officials say deforestation is
often a factor in the disasters, which they contend loosens soils on
mountainsides.

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