Indonesia floods, landslide kill 19, seven missing
Jakarta (VNA) - Indonesian authorities said that heavy rains caused
floods and landslides in West Sumatra, Indonesia, leaving 19 people dead, 7
missing, and forcing the evacuation of more than 70,000.
Torrential rains in the provincial capital of Padang and eight
other areas has damaged nearly 700 homes, scores of bridges and schools and
113ha of farmland.
Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management
Agency (BNPB) said about 150 personnel from various disaster response agencies have been mobilised to search for missing people, however, rescue work has
encountered many difficulties due to blocked roads after landslides. Evacuees
gathered at the nearest mosques and were provided with necessities such as
food, water, and medicine.
According to Abdul, most areas in Padang are still flooded with
roads blocked by a landslide extending 50 metres in the area of Padang
Pariaman.
With more rain expected in the next few days, the agency warned
of further damage from floods and landslides.
As it is at the peak of the
rainy season, water flow in rivers is often high, particularly on the islands
of Java and Sumatra, according to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG)./.