Floods wreak havoc on the Indonesian island of Sumatra; Death toll rises to 43, 15 missing

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Before midnight on Saturday, the floods affected villages in the hill country along with four districts in West Sumatra province.

Padang:

The dire consequences of flash floods on the Indonesian island of Sumatra are evident from the mounting body count. After finding a large number of dead bodies in the last few days, the rescue workers conducted a search for the dead bodies on Monday as well. 43 people died and 15 people went missing due to heavy rains.

National Disaster Management Agency spokesman Abdul Muhri said that before midnight on Saturday, floods swept away mountain villages along four districts in West Sumatra province and submerged hundreds of homes and buildings. 3100 people in Agam and Tanah Datar districts have been kept in temporary government camps due to floods.

Muhri said more bodies were recovered on Monday, most of them from villages in Agam and Tanah Datar districts, which suffered the most damage. The death toll has reached 43, while the search is on for 15 missing villagers. Pictures aired on television channels showed rescuers pulling out a mud-stained body from the destroyed village, with family members grieving at the sight. The body was placed in an orange and black bag and taken for burial.

Abdul Malin, head of the search and rescue office in Padang, said bad weather, damaged roads and roads blocked by debris were hampering rescue operations. Hundreds of police, soldiers and local residents were trying to clear the debris with hands, shovels and hoes. Relief operations were hampered by rain, damaged roads and thick layers of mud and debris.

“The devastation is over a large area and complex geography, and we need more rescue workers and mud removal equipment,” Malin said. Major roads around the Anai Valley waterfall area in Tanah Datar district were also blocked by mud, blocking access to other towns.

Late last year, a sudden eruption on Mount Merapi killed 23 climbers. According to Indonesia’s Center for Volcanology and Geological Disaster Mitigation, Merapi is known for sudden eruptions. Eruptions at Merapi are difficult to predict because the source is shallow and close to the summit.

The Merapi volcano has been active since its eruption in January 2024, causing no casualties. It is one of over 120 active volcanoes in Indonesia. Being located on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, the country continues to experience seismic disturbances.

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