This is the heart-stopping moment residents used a power line to climb across a raging river in Indonesia.

Footage shows a local helping to evacuate a woman using the precarious line, with pieces of cloth used to bind them together in South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra Province.

With no life jackets or other safety gear, the pair attempted to cross the powerful current as others on the opposite bank pulled on an attached rope to steady their movement.

Reports said locals had no choice but to use the overhead cable after the main bridge collapsed in a landslide.

Monsoon downpours have been pounding the island of Sumatra over the past week, triggering landslides and flash floods that submerged thousands of houses.

North Sumatra police spokesman Ferry Walinkutan said on Friday: 'As of this morning, the number of fatalities is 62, with 95 people injured, both serious and minor injuries. At least 65 people are still being searched for.'

While in neighbouring West Sumatra, at least 22 people were killed, with 12 others missing.

Authorities said the flood crisis has left at least 84 people dead and dozens more missing on the island.

Indonesia and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rainstorms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.