TANAH DATAR: At least 34 persons have died and 16 more were missing after flash floods and cold lava flow from a volcano hit western Indonesia, a local disaster official said on Sunday, AFP reported.
Hours of heavy rain caused flooding in two districts in West Sumatra province on Saturday evening and sent sweeping ash and large rocks down Mount Marapi, the most active volcano on the archipelago’s Sumatra island.
“Until now our data shows that 34 people died: 16 in Agam and 18 in Tanah Datar. At least 18 others are wounded. We are also still searching for 16 other people,” West Sumatra disaster agency spokesman Ilham Wahab told AFP.
The rescue operation, comprising local responders, law enforcement, military personnel, and volunteers, is tirelessly combing through the affected areas in a bid to locate survivors and provide relief.
The scale of devastation is deep as reports emerge of damaged mosques, houses, and public infrastructure, with large rocks and debris strewn across the landscape. In Tanah Datar, a popular tourist destination, the scenic beauty was marred by the destruction, with vital transportation links severed and vehicles swept away by raging currents.
Agam district also bore the brunt of the disaster, with several residences and public facilities bearing the scars of nature’s fury. Tragically, among the victims were children, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of the calamity. As the community reels from the loss, authorities have established evacuation centers and emergency posts to provide shelter and assistance to those displaced by the catastrophe.
This latest tragedy adds to Indonesia’s grim history of natural disasters, with the country frequently enduring landslides and floods during the rainy season. The toll of human lives and livelihoods underscores the urgent need for comprehensive disaster preparedness and mitigation measures in vulnerable regions.
The specter of environmental degradation looms large, with deforestation exacerbating the impact of natural disasters. Environmental campaigners have pointed to rampant logging as a contributing factor, emphasizing the crucial role of trees in mitigating the risk of floods and landslides.
Mount Marapi’s eruption in December, which killed 24 climbers, serves as a stark reminder of the volatile nature of Indonesia’s geological landscape.