13-5-2024 (JAKARTA) Flash floods and mudslides wreaked havoc in Indonesia’s West Sumatra province over the weekend, claiming the lives of at least 37 people, with 17 individuals still reported missing, authorities confirmed on Monday.
The calamity unfolded on Saturday evening as torrential rain triggered flash floods, landslides, and the ominous cold lava flow—a mixture of volcanic ash, rock debris, and water resembling mud—in three districts of West Sumatra province, as reported by Abdul Malik, the head of the provincial rescue team, to Reuters.
The cold lava flow, locally known as lahar, originated from Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra’s most active volcanoes, adding another layer of peril to the unfolding disaster.
“Incessant heavy rainfall swept down materials such as ash and large rocks from the slopes of Mount Marapi,” explained Abdul Malik.
“Cold lava flow and flash floods have increasingly become looming threats for us in recent times. However, the recurring challenge lies in the timing—it often strikes during the late hours of the night until dawn,” he lamented.
Responding to the crisis, approximately 400 personnel, comprising local rescuers, police, and military units, were mobilized on Monday to intensify search and rescue operations for the missing individuals. Their efforts were bolstered by the deployment of eight excavators and drones.
However, the rescue mission, which commenced on Sunday, faced formidable obstacles due to extensive road damage, impeding rescuers’ access to affected areas.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) revealed in a statement that nearly 200 houses suffered damage, while approximately 72 hectares (178 acres) of land, including vital rice fields, bore the brunt of the devastation. Moreover, at least 159 residents from Agam district were evacuated to nearby school premises, according to the BNPB.
Footage disseminated by the BNPB depicted roads and rice paddies submerged in mud, with debris strewn across settlements, underscoring the scale of the catastrophe.
Eko Widodo, a 43-year-old survivor, recounted the harrowing ordeal, describing how the floods unleashed chaos in an instant.
“The flooding was sudden, and the river overflowed, unleashing torrents of water in every direction, beyond our control,” he recounted, reflecting the sheer ferocity of the disaster.
