Three die in Bangkep landslide

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PALU: Three people have been reported dead, while dozens were injured amid a flood and landslide in Bangkep, Banggai regency, Central Sulawesi.

The victims killed in the natural disaster on Sunday were Yani, 28, Isal, 35, and Peno, 2. They were living in the same house.

Bartholomeus Tandigala, head of Central Sulawesi’s Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), said on Monday that 11 people suffering from serious injuries were still undergoing treatment at the Luwuk Regional Hospital (RSUD).

He said that the landslide was caused by heavy rains that hit the city over the last few days. Eight houses were crushed by the landslide and heavily damaged as a result.

“The people who live in nearby areas prone to landslides and floods like Trikora Hill, should be more cautious because the area is also densely populated,” Bartholomeus said.

Residents affected by the landslide fled from their houses and chose to live in their relatives’ houses for safety reasons.