14-4-2024 (JAKARTA) A tragic landslide in central Indonesia has resulted in the loss of at least 19 lives, with two more individuals still missing, according to local authorities on Sunday (Apr 14).
The incident occurred in the villages of South Makale and Makale in the Tana Toraja regency of South Sulawesi province. The victims, along with the two survivors, were evacuated from the landslide-affected areas on Saturday evening, as confirmed by Sulaiman Malia, the head of the local disaster agency.
Malia informed AFP on Sunday that the death toll currently stands at 19, with four fatalities in South Makale and 15 in Makale villages. The search for other potential victims is ongoing, with two individuals still unaccounted for, presumably trapped beneath the debris caused by the landslide.
Tana Toraja and its surrounding regions have been subjected to relentless heavy rainfall, particularly over the past week, with little respite. Malia highlighted the continuous downpours as a significant factor in the erosion of the soil in residential areas situated on the slopes of mountains, leading to the occurrence of landslides that engulfed residents’ homes.
Indonesia is known to be vulnerable to landslides during the rainy season, and deforestation has exacerbated the issue in certain areas. Prolonged torrential rains have caused flooding in various parts of the archipelago nation.
In a separate incident last month, flash floods and landslides on Sumatra island claimed the lives of at least 30 individuals, with many others still reported missing.
Furthermore, in December, a landslide and subsequent flooding devastated numerous houses and destroyed a hotel near Lake Toba on Sumatra, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least two people.
