JAKARTA: Indonesian aid workers are continuing to search for seven missing people, four days after heavy rains wreaked havoc in North Sumatra province, sparking floods and landslides that killed 15 people, an official said on Tuesday. told
Disaster agency spokesman Abdul Mehri said 11 deaths were reported from mudslides in Karu, Padang Laos and Tapanuli Selatan districts, and four more people lost their lives in floods in Dili Sardang district after Saturday’s heavy rains. Washed up.
About 100 rescuers, along with the police and the army, were searching for the seven missing people, but were being hampered by continuous rain, Abdul said.
He said that it is raining from afternoon to evening. This is the biggest obstacle while we are trying to find the missing persons, he said, adding that the search will continue till Saturday.
Landslides and floods damaged houses, mosques and rice fields. Road access to several villages was cut off, and excavators were being used to search for victims and missing persons.
The disaster agency warned people in North Sumatra province to brace for possible flooding in the coming weeks as more heavy rains are forecast, Abdul said.
Landslides occur frequently in Indonesia, especially during the rainy season. The risk of landslides is often exacerbated by deforestation and small-scale illegal mining operations in remote districts.