Severe flooding and landslides brought on by heavy rain in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province have resulted in at least 28 deaths, with four people still missing, authorities reported on Sunday.
Abdul Malik, chief of the provincial rescue team, stated, “There are 28 people killed, and we are still searching for four others who are missing.” The disaster has prompted an urgent search and rescue operation in the affected areas.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) indicated that continuous rainfall since Saturday night triggered mudslides in the Tanah Datar regency, impacting five sub-districts. The calamity has not only taken lives but also caused significant infrastructural damage.
BNPB’s latest assessment revealed that 84 housing units and 16 bridges have been damaged or destroyed. Efforts are underway to restore access and aid to the isolated regions. “Heavy equipment has been deployed to speed up the clearing of road access,” the agency confirmed in a statement.
Local authorities and rescue teams are working tirelessly to locate the missing individuals and provide assistance to those affected. The government urges residents in prone areas to remain vigilant as weather conditions continue to pose risks.
Indonesia, prone to natural disasters due to its geographic location along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” frequently experiences earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and flooding. The recent events in West Sumatra underscore the ongoing challenges faced by communities in dealing with environmental hazards.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
