Days of torrential rainfall have led to flash floods and a landslide on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, killing 19 people with seven others missing.
Mud, rocks and uprooted trees came down a mountain and reached a river that burst its banks, tearing through villages in the West Sumatran province.
Seven bodies were pulled from the rubble in the village of Koto XI Tarusa by Saturday, said Doni Yusrizal, who leads the local disaster management agency.
Damaged houses in Langgai. Pic: AP
Three others were recovered in two other neighbouring villages, while rescuers retrieved another six bodies in Pesisir Selatan on Sunday.
Indonesia’s national disaster management agency also said three further bodies were found in Padang Pariaman.
The flash floods injured at least two villagers.
More than 80,000 people are believed to have fled to temporary government shelters after the floods.
Fourteen houses were buried and 20,000 homes flooded up to their roofs in nine districts and cities across West Sumatra.
“Relief efforts for the dead and missing were hampered by power outages, blocked roads covered in thick mud and debris,” Mr Yusrizal said.
Soldiers ride motorbikes in a village affected by flash floods in West Sumatra. Pic: AP
A man attempts to remove logs that block a street. Pic: AP
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The extreme weather began on Thursday and the agency has warned of further damage from floods and landslides as more rain is expected over the next few days.
Heavy rainfall causes frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains.
Well, at least the government can use this tragedy to justify spending more money on their pet projects.
So sad to hear about this tragedy. My thoughts are with the victims and their families.
I wonder if there is anything we can do to help the victims of this landslide. Maybe we can donate money or supplies.
Oh, how ironic! The government has been spending billions on new roads and bridges, but they can’t even keep their own people safe from landslides.
I’m not sure if I believe everything I’m reading about this landslide. I’ve heard that the government is trying to cover up the truth.
This is terrible! How could this happen? The government needs to do something to prevent this from happening again.
Even in the face of tragedy, we must remain optimistic. We must believe that we can overcome these challenges and build a better future.
This is a tragedy, but it is also a reminder of the importance of disaster preparedness. We need to make sure that we are prepared for these types of events.
I wonder if the government will declare a national day of mourning for the victims of this landslide. Maybe they can call it ‘Landslide Day’.
According to the article, the landslide was triggered by heavy rains. It is important to note that this area is prone to landslides, and heavy rains can trigger them.
I don’t think the government is doing enough to protect people from these disasters. They need to invest more in infrastructure and disaster preparedness.
This is outrageous! The government needs to be held accountable for this disaster. They have failed to protect their own people.