Jakarta (VNA) – The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency of Indonesia (BMKG) on May 13 urged residents living around the river originating from Mount Marapi to be aware of the potential risks following the flash floods in this area on May 11 and evacuate to safe places.
BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati explained that the flash floods in the foothills of Mount Marapi, West Sumatra were caused by excessively heavy rainfall concentrated in a short period, coupled with steep terrain. Additionally, the volcanic mudflow from Mount Marapi, which has existed for a long time due to previous eruptions, also contributed to the severity of the flash floods.
According to the Indonesian National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures, the total deaths from flash floods in the area amounted to 43 as of 1pm on May 13, of them 39 bodies identified, while other 17 people are missing./.
