Landslides in Indonesia’s Sumatra kill at least 27, rescuers search for missing
Indonesian rescuers are working tirelessly to search for passengers trapped in a minibus buried in mud following devastating flash floods and landslides that have ravaged several districts in North Sumatra province. The deadly natural disasters, which have been compounded by torrential rain since last week, have claimed the lives of at least 27 people, with the toll expected to rise.
According to Indonesia’s disaster agency, the flash floods and landslides have affected four districts in the province. On Wednesday, a landslide struck a village in Deli Serdang, resulting in the deaths of seven people and injuring at least 20 others.
Hadi Wahyudi, a spokesperson for North Sumatra police, told Reuters that rescuers are currently focusing their efforts on locating those missing in the aftermath of the disaster, including those trapped in vehicles on a hilly interprovince road that was hit by a massive mudslide. While no exact figure has been provided, the official confirmed that several vehicles, including a minibus, remain buried under mud.
In addition to the minibus incident, rescue teams have recovered 20 bodies since the search began over the weekend. They are continuing their efforts to find two more individuals who remain unaccounted for.
“Our priority today is to find the missing and clear the roads affected by the landslides,” Hadi said, adding that excavators have been deployed to assist in the search and rescue operations.
The landslides and flash floods have caused widespread destruction, damaging houses, mosques, and rice fields, leaving many people homeless and without livelihoods. Meanwhile, in Medan, the provincial capital, heavy rainfall has caused flooding, disrupting regional elections in several areas. Some polling stations had to delay the voting process due to the severe weather conditions.
As the search and rescue operation continues, authorities are bracing for further extreme weather, with Indonesia’s meteorological agency warning that the La Nina phenomenon could bring additional heavy rainfall to the region by the end of 2024, exacerbating the risk of more flooding and landslides in the months ahead.
The disaster has highlighted the vulnerability of communities in the region to climate-related events, with authorities urging residents to remain vigilant as they work to recover from the devastating impacts of the flash floods and landslides.
