Indonesia sends 150 rescuers to find missing as flash floods and landslides kill 19 in Sumatra

Indonesia’s rescue agency is hunting for those missing, with 150 rescuers from various disaster organisations drafted into the effort.

Tons of mud, rocks and uprooted trees rolled down a mountain late on Friday, reaching a river that burst its banks and tore through villages in Pesisir Selatan district of West Sumatra province, said Doni Yusrizal, who heads the local disaster management agency.

Rescuers by Saturday pulled out seven bodies in the worst-hit village of Koto XI Tarusan, and recovered three others in two neighbouring villages, Yusrizal said.

Rescuers retrieved six bodies in Pesisir Selatan and three more in the neighbouring district of Padang Pariaman, bringing the death toll to 19, the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said on Sunday.

The agency in a statement said at least two villagers were injured by the flash flood and rescuers are searching for seven people who are reportedly still missing.

It said more than 80,000 people had fled to temporary government shelters after the flood and landslide buried 14 houses, while 20,000 houses were flooded up to the roof in nine districts and cities in West Sumatra province.

“Relief efforts for the dead and missing were hampered by power outages, blocked roads covered in thick mud and debris,” Doni said.

Those evacuated gathered in the nearest mosques, said BNPB spokesman Abdul Muhari, but no temporary shelters were set up. They received food, water and medicines, while others returned home as waters subsided.

Heavy rains cause frequent landslides and flash floods in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near floodplains.

Indonesia’s rainy season began in January, with the BMKG meteorological agency forecasting a first-quarter peak,