T

wo people were killed and nine others injured on Tuesday evening when a landslide and flash flood hit residential areas at five locations in Pematang Siantar, North Sumatra.

Besides demolishing homes and public facilities, the disaster, triggered by torrential rain, also allowed crocodiles at the Pematang Siantar Zoo to escape from their enclosure.

'€œFive locations were hit by the landslide and flash flood, including the Chinese cemetery and Pematang Siantar Zoo. Losses are still being calculated, but we know for sure, that 16 homes and a number of public facilities were damaged,'€ Pematang Siantar Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) head Daniel Siregar told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

Daniel said the victims had been identified as Julianarti, 52, of Simarito subdistrict and Nursiyem, 80, of Banjar subdistrict.

Julainarti was killed after being buried by the landslide behind her house and Nursiyem was killed after being swept away by the strong current that damaged her home. Both were buried on Wednesday.

Those injured are still receiving treatment at the Army Hospital in Pematang Siantar.

Daniel added that the deceased and most of the injured were hit by falling debris from their houses, which were broken apart by the landslide and flash flood.

He revealed that the flood had also destroyed 12 homes in West Siantar district and four others in North Siantar district.

Besides the houses, several public facilities including roads and bridges in Tanjung Pinggir were also damaged.

The flood also allowed several animals at the Pematang Siantar Zoo to escape from their enclosures.

Pematang Siantar Zoo owner Rahmat Shah said the zoo was engulfed by 2 meters of water when the flood hit.

He said five crocodiles and several other animals had escaped during the flood. However, he added, all the animals had been recaptured.

Separately, the daughter of Nursiyem, one of the deceased, Inda Ramadhani, said it was raining heavily, from 7 p.m. local time in Pematang Siantar, before the flash flood occurred. She said her entire family, including the victim, were inside the house during the heavy rain, when they suddenly felt a strong vibration, like a quake.

'€œI left the house to see what had happened. I was surprised when the flood suddenly came toward our house. Fortunately, my neighbor quickly helped us to rescue the children before our house collapsed, but our mother did not survive,'€ said Inda.

Pematang Siantar City Police Chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Dodi Darjanto said conditions in the affected areas had already improved as of noon on Wednesday.

Dodi added that he had instructed police to go the affected areas to provide help to residents.