Six people have died in landslides triggered by heavy rain on the main Indonesian island of Java, police said Saturday.

"We have found all six bodies. It was hard to find them as we only used hands and hoes," said local police chief Rianto, who only uses one name.

Local authorities also said 650 people had been evacuated in the Karanganyar district of central Java, while the health ministry said it would send emergency food supplies to the area.

Landslides occur frequently in Indonesia during the wet season, which occurs during the northern winter.