Wicked weather: A drone view showing houses damaged following a flash flood in Rua village, Ternate, North Maluku province. — Reuters
Thirteen people were killed and some missing in Indonesia’s North Maluku province after floods in the east of the sprawling archipelago, the local search and rescue agency said.
Heavy rainfall since Saturday caused yesterday’s flooding on Ternate island, hitting Ternate city, said the agency, Basarnas.
Search and rescue teams working with local residents recovered 13 bodies in Rua village in North Maluku province.
The flash flood swept away residential areas and cut off the main road and access to Rua. Dozens of buildings were buried in mud.
“Our team is making efforts to evacuate the victims who were hit by landslides and debris that were carried away by the flood,” Basarnas said, adding two people were found alive.
Citing forecasts that heavy rain may continue in the next few days, the country’s disaster management agency BNPB warned local residents to be on guard.
“We urge people to remain vigilant and follow directions from authorities on potential subsequent floods,” spokesperson Abdul Muhari said in a statement.
Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains.
In May, flash floods and mud slides in West Sumatra province killed more than 60 people. — Agencies
