An abandoned newborn baby girl was found alive after being dumped in a pile of rubbish in Indonesia.

The foundling was discovered by a resident as she was returning from the rice fields in Sungai Raya Village in Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan Province on Tuesday morning, February 28.

The baby's cries had caught her attention and she rushed to report the discovery to local authorities.

Village officials arrived at the scene to inspect the rubbish bag. When they uncovered it, they found the whimpering child still wrapped in blood and bits of placenta.

She is believed to have been left there shortly after the mother gave birth and police believe she was under 12 hours old when she was found.

Adjunct Inspector Ade, head of the public information for the Kubu Raya Police, said: 'The baby was found alive by residents here. She was wrapped in a black plastic bag and thrown in the trash.

'She was still alive so she was taken to the hospital, where nurses are caring for her. She's very lucky. I don't think she would have survived if the resident had not found her.'

The policeman added that it was the sixth case of abandonment in the Kubu Raya Regency in recent months.

The abandoned newborn has been taken to the Nabasa Maternity Hospital for treatment and monitoring. She will then be placed in state care.

Ade said: 'We are still conducting an investigation to find who dumped the innocent baby here. She was still very young, perhaps just a few hours old but no more than half a day old.

'We ask residents who have information to help us by reporting to the police so this case can be solved quickly. They might have seen someone in the area earlier that morning.'