At least 14 people have died after being swept away by floodwaters in flash floods in North Sulawesi province, Indonesia.
On January 6, search and rescue work is still being deployed for those who are still missing, in the context of heavy rain causing serious damage to the affected area.
According to Mr. Nuriadin Gumeleng, spokesman for the local rescue agency, heavy rain in the early morning of January 5 triggered flash floods on Siau Island, in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro area.
The fast flow of water swept away soil, rocks, mud and many obstacles, making it difficult to access the scene. By January 6, rescue forces had deployed 16 personnel to search for 4 people still missing, and recorded 18 others injured.
Mr. Nuriadin Gumeleng said that functional forces continue to collect information from local people to determine the possibility of other missing cases. Many main roads in affected areas are still covered with rocks, garbage and thick mud, hindering travel and relief activities.
The Indonesian National Disaster Mitigation Agency informed that at least 444 people have been evacuated to schools and churches in the area to ensure safety. Mr. Abdul Muhari - spokesman for this agency - said that the government has deployed excavators to clear roads congested by mud and debris, thereby gradually restoring traffic.
Material damage has also been recorded at a serious level. North Sulawesi Governor Yulius Selvanus said that flash floods have destroyed hundreds of houses and many local government headquarters, greatly affecting people's lives.
Flash floods occurred during the peak of the rainy season on Sulawesi Island, as forecast by the Indonesian meteorological agency. This agency warned that the islands of Java, Sulawesi, Maluku and Papua will face the peak of the rainy season in January and February, increasing the risk of flooding. Meanwhile, rainfall in Sumatra and Borneo peaked in November and December last year.
