ENDE, Indonesia -- More than 50 people are now feared dead after mudslides struck parts of the eastern Indonesian island of Flores early this week, government officials said on Friday.

Officials said rescue workers had so far recovered 28 bodies from the debris and teams would decide today whether to continue searching for another 28 people still posted as missing, Reuters reported.

"This natural disaster can be stated as a national disaster considering the number of victims and the loss of facilities and infrastructure," official Paulinus Domi told Reuters from Ende, a remote regency located 1,750km (1,050 miles) east of Jakarta.

Five government ministers were due to fly to Flores from Jakarta today to inspect the damage.

The mudslides were triggered by heavy rains which started pounding the regencies of Ende, Sikka and east Flores on Monday. Ende was hardest hit with 12 dead and 18 missing.

Mudslides are not uncommon in Indonesia during the rainy season, which typically runs from October until April.