19 Death, 7 Still Missing in Indonesia Flash Floods

Doni Yusrizal, head of the local disaster management agency, explained that mud, rocks, and uprooted trees flowed down from a mountain, burying villages in the area. Rescue operations were difficult due to power outages, blocked roads, and debris. Rescuers found seven bodies in Koto XI Tarusan village and three others in nearby villages.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency reported that six bodies were discovered in Pesisir Selatan and three in the nearby area of Padang Pariaman, bringing the death toll to 19.

The agency said that two villagers were injured and seven were still missing, with over 80,000 individuals seeking refuge in temporary shelters provided by the government.

Flash floods and landslides are frequent in Indonesia, with many people living in areas prone to flooding, especially during the rainy season. In December, two individuals lost their lives in a landslide and flooding incident that destroyed houses and a hotel near Lake Toba on Sumatra.

Indonesia frequently experiences landslides and flash floods due to heavy rainfall, affecting mountainous areas and floodplains where millions of people reside. This recent event is not the first time in recent years that the country has been plagued by such disasters.