At least 10 dead, 10 missing as flash floods and landslide hit Indonesia’s Sumatra island

Torrential rains have triggered flash floods and a landslide on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, killing not less than 10 folks and leaving 10 others lacking, officers mentioned Saturday.

Tons of mud, rocks and uprooted timber rolled down a mountain late Friday, reaching a river that burst its banks and tore via mountainside villages in Pesisir Selatan district of West Sumatra province, mentioned Doni Yusrizal, who heads the native catastrophe administration company.

Rescuers pulled out seven our bodies within the worst-hit village of Koto XI Tarusan, and recovered two others in two neighboring villages, mentioned Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Company’s spokesperson Yusrizal. Ten are nonetheless lacking.

He mentioned that 46,000 folks had fled to a short lived authorities shelter after the flood and landslide buried 14 homes whereas 20,000 homes have been flooded as much as the roof.

“Reduction efforts for the useless and lacking have been hampered by energy outages, blocked roads coated in thick mud and particles,” Yusrizal mentioned.

Heavy rains trigger frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, the place tens of millions of individuals dwell in mountainous areas or close to floodplains.

This is not the primary time lately that landslides and flash floods have plagued Indonesia.

In 2023, a landslide attributable to torrential rain killed not less than 11 folks and left dozens of others lacking on an island in Indonesia’s distant Natuna regency, catastrophe officers mentioned. Tons of mud fell from surrounding hills onto homes in Serasan village in Natuna. Rescuers recovered not less than 11 our bodies and authorities concern that the loss of life toll will rise, Nationwide Catastrophe Mitigation Company spokesperson Abdul Muhari mentioned.