Tragic Flash Floods in Indonesia Claim Lives and Displace Residents

Devastating Floods Hit North Sulawesi

Manado (Indonesia): Officials reported that flash floods caused by heavy rainfall have resulted in the deaths of at least 16 individuals in North Sulawesi province.

The relentless monsoon rains led to riverbanks overflowing early Monday, unleashing torrents of water mixed with mud, rocks, and debris that swept through villages in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro District, according to Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency.

Emergency responders, along with police and military personnel, were dispatched to four severely affected villages on Siau, a small island located approximately 130 kilometers (80 miles) from the northern tip of Sulawesi, Indonesia's fourth-largest island. Access to some areas was hindered due to damaged roads and disrupted communication, Muhari noted.

The floods destroyed at least seven homes and caused damage to over 140 residences as the water surged down the hills. More than 680 residents were forced to seek refuge in temporary shelters set up in churches and public buildings, Muhari added.

As the weather improved and floodwaters began to recede on Tuesday, rescuers recovered 16 bodies and continued searching for three individuals who remain missing in areas where entire neighborhoods were submerged, reported Nuriadian Gumeleng, a spokesperson for the North Sulawesi search and rescue office.

Chyntia Ingrid Kalangit, the District Chief of Sitaro, announced a 14-day emergency response period starting Monday to expedite aid delivery, evacuations, and infrastructure repairs following the flooding, which also injured 25 people.

Kalangit urged residents to stay vigilant, warning that additional rainfall could increase the risk of further flooding or landslides. Heavy equipment and relief supplies have been dispatched by the provincial government.

In December, catastrophic floods and landslides affected 52 cities and regencies on Sumatra, Indonesia's largest island, resulting in 1,178 fatalities and over 7,000 injuries, with 148 residents still unaccounted for as of Tuesday, according to the National Disaster Management Agency.