PALOPO, Indonesia, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Nearly one thousand families have been affected by floods following heavy rains in Indonesia's Sulawesi island, an official said on Wednesday, with several casualties and damage to homes.

Flash floods hit Palopo, in South Sulawesi province, on Tuesday evening, washing away several makeshift homes. Three people died and four are still missing, an official in Palopo said.

The water receded on Wednesday, but officials said that Palopo, which is 250 km (155 miles) north of the provincial capital Makassar, has been in a total blackout since the previous night.

"We are still searching for the four missing people, but so far 960 families have been affected by the floods," Jawil, the head of rehabilitation and social funds in the city, told reporters. Floods and landslides are common during the rainy season in Indonesia. (Reporting by Yusuf Ahmad; editing by Sara Webb and Sanjeev Miglani) (olivia.rondonuwu@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: olivia.rondonuwu.reuters.com@reuters.net; Tel +6221 384 6364))

AlertNet news is provided by