A helicopter dropped food supplies and moved survivors as well as corpses from isolated, mud-soaked areas in Jember district, local government spokesman Suhartomo said.

He said the death toll had risen to 77 but it could increase further.

"I have received information that the helicopter also evacuated bodies from flooded areas. They have not been included in the tally but I don't know how many," Suhartomo told AFP.

He said dozens of residents at a coffee and cocoa plantation were trapped and had to be evacuated by helicopter.

More than 6,000 people have been displaced and sought refuge in government buildings and schools, officials said.

The floods swept away hundreds of homes in Jember, 800 kilometresmiles) east of Jakarta, on Sunday night following two days of monsoon rains which caused a river to swell and burst its banks.

Environmentalists partly blame deforestation for the tragedy.

Severe flooding is not unusual during Indonesia's rainy season.

More than 200 people were killed in 2003 when flash floods tore through Bahorok, a popular riverside resort in North Sumatra, destroying more than 450 buildings.

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