Flash floods and mudslides in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province killed at least 37 people last weekend, and the search for 17 missing individuals continues, authorities said on Monday.
Floods kill 37 in Indonesia:
Torrential rain on Saturday evening triggered flash floods, landslides, and cold lava flow in three districts of West Sumatra province, according to Abdul Malik, the provincial rescue team chief. Cold lava flow is a mixture of volcanic ash, rock debris, and water that runs like mud.
The chilly lava flow, known as a lahar in Indonesia, originated on Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra’s most active volcanoes. In December, more than 20 individuals were murdered when Marapi erupted. A sequence of eruptions ensued. “The heavy rain swept materials such as ash and large rocks from the Marapi volcano,” Abdul Malik said.
“In recent years, cold lava flows and flash floods have been constant hazards to us. But the trouble is that it always occurs late at night until daybreak,” he explained. According to Abdul, over 400 persons, including local rescuers, police, and military, were sent to search for the missing people on Monday, assisted by at least eight excavators and drones. The rescue attempts began on Sunday and have been hindered by damaged roadways, making it impossible for rescuers to get through.
According to the National Disaster and Management Agency BNPB, about 200 houses and 72 hectares (178 acres) of land were damaged, including rice fields. The BNPB reported that at least 159 individuals from the Agam area had been evacuated to neighboring school buildings. The BNPB uploaded footage that showed the roads and rice fields submerged in muck. The floodwaters also carried logs and huge rocks into settlements. Eko Widodo, a 43-year-old survivor, remembered that the floods struck suddenly. “The flooding was sudden, and the river got stuck, which caused the water to flow around and out of control.”
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