Damage and more rain hamper search for flood and landslide victims in Indonesia
PADANG Indonesia AP Rescuers were hampered by damaged bridges and roads and a lack of heavy equipment Friday after flash floods and landslides on Indonesia s Sumatra island left people dead and dozens missing A tropical cyclone is expected to continue hitting the Southeast Asian nation for days announced Indonesia s Meteorology Climatology and Geophysical Agency Monsoon rains caused rivers to burst their banks in North Sumatra province Tuesday The deluge tore through mountainside villages swept away people and submerged more than houses and buildings the National Accident Management Agency commented About displaced families fled to governing body shelters Elsewhere in the island s provinces of Aceh and West Sumatra thousands of houses were flooded a large number of up to roofs the agency stated The death toll in North Sumatra province rose to as rescue teams struggled to reach affected areas in cities and districts of North Sumatra province mentioned the National Accident Mitigation Agency s spokesperson Abdul Muhari He revised the number of people still missing in the province to from the initial record of following a coordination meeting with local executives Friday Mudslides that covered much of the area power blackouts and lack of telecommunications were hampering the search efforts mentioned Ferry Wulantukan spokesperson for North Sumatra regional police In West Sumatra province flash floods that struck cities and districts left at least people dead Muhari revealed citing statistics shared by the West Sumatra s Vice Governor The number of people still missing was unclear West Sumatra s accident mitigation agency released the flooding submerged more than homes forcing about residents to flee to temporary shelters Rice fields livestock and residents facilities were also destroyed and bridges and roads cut off by floods and landslides isolated residents In Aceh province officials struggled to bring excavators and other heavy equipment over washed-out roads after torrential rains sent mud and rocks crashing onto the hilly hamlets At least six people have died and were missing in three villages in Central Aceh district The extreme weather was driven by Tropical Cyclone Senyar which formed in the Strait of Malacca explained Achadi Subarkah Raharjo at Indonesia s Meteorology Climatology and Geophysical Agency He warned that unstable atmospheric conditions mean extreme weather could persist as long as the cyclone system remains developing We have extended its extreme weather warning due to strong water vapor supply and shifting atmospheric dynamics Raharjo stated Senyar intensified rainfall strong winds and high waves in Aceh North Sumatra West Sumatra Riau and nearby areas before dissipating Its prolonged downpours left steep saturated terrains highly vulnerable to disasters he announced Seasonal rains frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia an archipelago of islands where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains Karmini broadcasted from Jakarta Indonesia Source
