Indonesia Floods and Volcano Many dead, Search Continues

On the Indonesian island of Sumatra, torrential rains have caused catastrophic floods and mudflows that have claimed almost 41 lives and left over 17 more missing.

(C) Al Jazeera

Big floods and mud from a mountain caused by heavy rain killed almost 41 people on Sumatra island, Indonesia. More than 17 people are still missing.

   Heavy rains activated Lahars, cold volcanic mudflows, from Mount Marapi, that swept through villages in villages in the island. Floodwater submerged homes, roads and mosques,leaving a path of destruction. 

   “The situation is dire,” stated Ilham Wahab, an official with the West Sumatra disaster agency. Rescue operations and search is going on, with search teams in the deadly affected areas of Agam and Tanah Datar districts for the survivors.

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   Government officials are requesting residents to evacuate to safer locations as heavy rains continue to threaten. The national disaster agency report shows hundreds of homes, bridges and mosques destroyed, with huge impact on the agricultural land too.

  Indonesia, prone to natural disasters during rainy season, faces the ongoing challenge of heavy floods and landslide risks.