JAKARTA, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- The local government of Bima regency on Sumbawa Island in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara province officially declared a disaster emergency status on Tuesday following flash floods and landslides that killed three people.

The emergency status is valid from Feb. 4 to Feb. 17, as the local authority aims to expedite the search and rescue of missing victims and accelerate the distribution of aid to affected communities.

"The status is based on various indicators, such as the series of flood and landslide disasters that have recently occurred in Bima regency. We want to ensure the reconstruction process and post-flood and landslide handling are prioritized," said Syuriadin, head of the public relations division of the Bima administration on Tuesday.

The flash flood occurred last Sunday in Wera district of the regency, sweeping away several houses and eight people. The flood also washed away dozens of hand tractors and submerged dozens of hectares of rice fields.

As of Tuesday, rescue teams are still searching for additional victims. Enditem

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