At least 16 people have died and seven others are still missing after flooding and landslides over the weekend on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, the Indonesian Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Monday.
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“A total of 16 people died and seven others are missing,” said the spokesperson for this national agency, Abdul Muhari, in a statement.
Flash floods and landslides hit four districts in North Sumatra province.
Karo district recorded the highest number of casualties, with five people found dead and five others still missing after a river flash flooded on Saturday.
The other victims are spread across three other districts in the province: Deli Serdang, South Tapanuli and Padang Lawas.
According to Muhari, Karo and Deli Serdang districts have already been hit several times this year by flash floods and landslides.
“This year alone, these two districts have been hit by disasters three and two times respectively,” he said. Severe weather destroyed houses, mosques and public facilities.
The disaster management agency has deployed personnel as well as rescuers and soldiers to the site.
Landslides occur regularly across the vast archipelago during the rainy season between November and April and the problem has been made worse in some areas by deforestation.
In July, a landslide on the island of Sulawesi (Celebes), near an illegal gold mine, left at least 27 dead and 15 missing.
In May, at least 67 people died after a mixture of ash, sand and stones from the eruption of Mount Marapi in West Sumatra spread into residential areas, causing flooding sudden.
