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Indonesia’s West Sumatra province was ravaged by flash floods and mudslides, claiming the lives of at least 43 people, with 15 still missing as rescue efforts continue, authorities reported on Monday.
The flood triggered by torrential rain over the weekend , authorities said, lead toflash floods, landslides, and the flow of cold lava—a mix of volcanic ash, rock debris, and water, in three districts of West Sumatra province, according to Abdul Malik, chief of the provincial rescue team.
Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra’s most active volcanoes, released cold lava flow, locally known as lahar, exacerbating the disaster. The volcano had erupted in December, claiming more than 20 lives, with subsequent eruptions occurring since then.
Malik, highlighted the ongoing threat posed by cold lava flow and flash floods, especially during nighttime hours.
He said, “The heavy rain swept materials such as ash and large rocks from the Marapi volcano.
“Cold lava flow and flash floods have always been threats to us recently. But the problem is, it always happens late at night until dawn”.
Despite the challenges, search and rescue operations intensified on Monday, with approximately 400 personnel, including rescuers, police, and military, utilizing at least eight excavators and drones to locate the missing individuals.
The national disaster and management agency, BNPB, reported significant damage, including nearly 200 houses and 72 hectares of land, including vital rice fields. Evacuations were conducted in Agam district, with 159 people seeking refuge in nearby schools.
