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Death toll rises from West Sumatra landslides, flooding
Rescue operations are continuing for several people still missing as a result of flooding and landslides in West Sumatra, while the National Disaster Mitigation Agency reported that the death toll had risen to 26 as of Monday.
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People stand on March 10, 2024 near a house that collapsed in a flash flood when a river burst its banks near a village in South Pesisir regency, West Sumatra. (AFP/Rezan Soleh)
T
he death toll in West Sumatra increased on Monday to 26 people from 21 on Sunday, with at least 11 people still missing from the landslides and flash floods that hit the province, according to the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB).
Prolonged torrential rains that began last Thursday have caused landslides and rivers to overflow in several regencies, including South Pesisir and Padang Pariaman.
BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari told The Jakarta Post on Monday afternoon that 23 people had been killed in landslides in South Pesisir and three others in landslides in Padang Pariaman.
Rescuers were continuing their search for four people still missing in South Pesisir, in an operation involving personnel from the Padang Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) that was focusing on the three worst-affected subdistricts of Koto XI Tarusan, Sutera and Bayang.
“We’ll continue the search until the seventh day [Wednesday],” Basarnas Padang head Abdul Malik said on Sunday, as quoted by Antara, adding that the operation could be extended for another three days.
It is as yet unclear if a rescue mission is underway to search for the seven other missing people, including in which region.
Doni Gusrizal, the acting head of the South Pesisir Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD), said on Saturday that rescue efforts were hindered by debris from flash floods obstructing roads.
