Death toll from Indonesia floods, landslides hits 26
PADANG, Indonesia: Rescuers recovered more bodies as waters began to recede after flash floods and landslides caused by torrential rains on Indonesia’s western Sumatra island killed at least 26 people and left 11 missing, officials said on Monday.
Monsoon rains and rising rivers have submerged nine districts and cities in West Sumatra province since Thursday. On Friday night, a major mudslide caused a river to breach its banks and tear through mountainside villages in the Pesisir Selatan district.
Relief efforts have been hampered by power outages, damaged bridges and roads blocked by thick mud and debris, the National Disaster Management Agency said.
Agency spokesman Abdul Muhari said rescuers had recovered more bodies, mostly in the worst-hit villages in Pesisir Selatan and its neighboring Padang Pariaman district, bringing the death toll to 26.
Landslides buried at least 14 houses, he added. At least two villagers were injured and rescuers were still searching for 11 people reportedly missing.
Monsoon rains in West Sumatra have submerged more than 37,000 houses and buildings. At least three houses were swept away by flash floods and 666 others were damaged.
The floods also damaged 26 bridges, 45 mosques and 25 schools; and destroyed 13 roads, two irrigation system units, which in turn submerged 113 hectares (279 acres) of rice fields and 300 square meters (3,220 square feet) of plantations, the agency said.
Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in the Southeastern Asian nation of more than 17,000 islands, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains.
The problem has been aggravated in some places by deforestation, with prolonged torrential rain causing flooding in some areas.
A landslide and floods swept away dozens of houses and destroyed a hotel near Lake Toba in Sumatra in December, killing at least two people.