Flash floods, landslides wreak havoc in Indonesia - 26 dead, 11 missing, over 80,000 flee - almost a FOOT of rain in just 6 hours (UPDATES)

First Post
Sat, 09 Mar 2024 11:07 UTC

© AFP

Motorists drive through a muddy road following flash flooding in Pesisir Selatan Regency after days of heavy rain across the province.

Following flash floods and a landslide on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, a local official reported Saturday that at least ten people had died and ten more were missing.

In the province of West Sumatra, torrential rains caused landslides and floods in the Pesisir Selatan regency, forcing about 46,000 people to flee to makeshift shelters.

"Ten bodies were discovered. According to a statement from Doni Yusrizal, acting head of the Pesisir Selatan disaster mitigation agency, "two victims were found in Langgai village, Sutera subdistrict; seven victims were found and identified in Koto XI Tarusan subdistrict; and one other victim was found in the Lengayang subdistrict."

Doni added that bad weather had hampered efforts to search for 10 missing people.

"The weather as of this morning is still rainy, and then there are some access (points) that were cut off so it is difficult to go through," said Mr Doni, adding they were using boats to reach people cut off by the floods.

At least 14 houses were buried in the landslide, more than 20,000 houses were flooded and eight bridges had collapsed, according to the statement.

In Padang Pariaman regency, also in West Sumatra, heavy downpours during March 7 and March 8 caused rivers to overflow, and triggered floods and a landslide, killing at least three people, according to a statement from the local disaster mitigation agency.

Indonesia is prone to landslides during the rainy season and the problem has been aggravated in some places by deforestation, with prolonged torrential rain causing flooding in some areas of the archipelago nation.

A landslide and floods swept away dozens of houses and destroyed a hotel near Lake Toba on Sumatra in December, killing at least two people.

With inputs from AFP

Comment: Update March 10

Al Jazeera reports:

Flash floods and a landslide on Indonesia's Sumatra island have left at least 19 people dead and seven others missing, officials have said.

Mud, rocks and uprooted trees rushed down a mountainside and engulfed villages in the Pesisir Selatan district of West Sumatra province late on Friday following torrential rains, Doni Yusrizal, who heads the local disaster management agency, said on Sunday.

Yusrizal said rescuers recovered seven bodies in the village of Koto XI Tarusan and three others in two neighbouring villages.

"Relief efforts for the dead and missing were hampered by power outages, blocked roads covered in thick mud and debris," Yusrizal said.

Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency said six bodies were found in Pesisir Selatan and three bodies were found in the neighbouring district of Padang Pariaman, bringing the death toll so far to 19.

The agency said at least two villagers were injured and seven others were still missing, with more than 80,000 people fleeing to temporary government shelters.

Flash floods and landslides are a common occurrence in Indonesia, where millions of people live near floodplains, especially during the rainy season.

In December, at least two people were killed when a landslide and floods swept away dozens of houses and destroyed a hotel near Lake Toba on Sumatra.

Update March 11

Floodlist reports:

Days of heavy rain on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia triggered deadly flooding and landslides which have left at least 26 dead and 11 missing.

© BPBD Padang Pariaman Regency

Rescue after flooding in Padang Pariaman Regency, West Sumatra, March 2024.

According to BNPB, Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency, heavy rainfall triggered flooding and landslides in a number of areas in West Sumatra Province from 07 March 2024.

By 10 March, BNPB reported at least 19 fatalities along with widespread damage to homes, forcing over 80,000 people to evacuate.

Flood waters swept through streets of Padang City, capital of West Sumatra province, impacting around 10,000 homes and displacing 3,734 people. Authorities reported flooding in 31 locations in eight sub-districts in the city area between 07 and 09 March. Landslides were reported in six locations. Figures show that almost 300 mm of rain fell in 6 hours late on 07 March 2024.

Communities in Pesisir Selatan Regency were also severely impacted. On 10 March, BNPB reported flooding had affected 25,794 families and displaced 76,178 people. At least 16 people lost their lives in the regency.

Fatalities were also reported in Padang Pariaman Regency, where severe flooding and multiple landslides have affected 2,958 people and displaced over 200.

Other affected areas include Solok City and the wider Solok Regency, Limapuluh Kota Regency, Agam Regency, Pasaman Regency and West Pasaman Regency.

Search and rescue teams have been working to find those reported missing. In the latest update of 11 March, BNPB confirmed 26 fatalities and 11 missing. BNPB reported damage to over 30,000 homes, 26 bridges, 45 buildings of worship, 25 schools, 13 roads and 5 public buildings.