Death Toll From Indonesia’s Flash Floods Climbs To 16 | World News

The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) said that the number of deaths due to floods and landslides in Indonesia’s eastern province of North Sulawesi increased to 16, while three other people were missing.

The disaster hit Sitaro Islands Regency around 2:30 am (local time) on Monday after hours of heavy rain triggered river overflows, BNPB said on Tuesday.

According to the agency, at least 148 homes were affected in four regions; seven were destroyed, 29 were heavily damaged and 112 were slightly damaged.

Floodwaters had receded by Monday afternoon, but electricity and telecommunications networks were disrupted in affected areas.

In a press release issued Tuesday afternoon, Abdul Muhari, head of BNPB Data and Information Center, said 22 people were injured in the disaster and taken to nearby medical facilities for treatment, Xinhua news agency reported.

“About 682 residents are currently staying in temporary shelters,” he said, adding that emergency response efforts are being carried out jointly by disaster management agencies, search and rescue teams, the military, police, and volunteers.

Residents of the affected neighborhoods were temporarily evacuated to safer locations. Preliminary data showed that 35 families, totaling 108 people, were displaced.

The disaster also wiped out five homes and cut off road access between the East Siau and South East Siau subdistricts.

Floods and landslides occur frequently during the rainy season in Indonesia.

Local authorities declared a 14-day emergency response period from January 5 to January 18 and urged residents to be mindful of the ongoing risks of extreme weather.

Floods and landslides occur frequently during the rainy season in Indonesia.