VOA常速英语:At Least 58 Killed After Dam Bursts Outside Indonesian Capital

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The death toll from a dam collapse near the Indonesian capital has reached at least 58 people, but is expected to rise further as dozens more are reported missing.

Most residents were sleeping when the earthen dam collapsed, sending 70 million cubic feet of water crashed down on their homes.

The muddy torrent destroyed hundreds of houses in the suburb southwest of Jakarta.

Local television showed images of bodies and debris floating by what was left of the community.

Emergency rescue services went in with rubber boats to get survivors - many had climbed to the rooftops to escape the flood.

Residents compared the wave of water that hit them to a tsunami.

One man said at about five o'clock in the morning, he heard the dam collapse and all of sudden the water rushed towards the houses. He said the water was as high as four meters.

Indonesian authorities say torrential rains were too much for the Dutch colonial era dam.

Indonesia's Vice President Yusuf Kalla and welfare minister Aburizal Bakrie visited the disaster area. They promised government support for those who lost their homes.

Indonesia often suffers from deadly floods and landslides during the rainy season.

In 2007 at least forty people were drowned in flooding in Jakarta.

This latest disaster is likely to get worse.

Authorities say there are still dozens missing and being rescued from what is left of their homes.