PESISIR SELATAN, INDONESIA – A catastrophic landslide spurred by heavy rain in West Sumatra province, Indonesia, has killed a minimum of 10 individuals and left another 10 missing. The landslide, which occurred on Friday, saw an avalanche of mud, rocks, and trees slide down the side of a hill, creating a blockage that caused a nearby river to overflow. The ensuing flash floods channeled through the mountainside villages in the Pesisir Selatan district with devastating consequences.
The worst affected of these was the village of Koto XI Tarusan, where search efforts led to the recovery of seven bodies. Simultaneously, rescue teams retrieved two bodies from the neighboring hamlets, as reported by National Disaster Management Agency spokesperson, Yusrizal. A total of ten individuals are currently unaccounted for.
Around 46,000 residents have sought refuge in government-established shelters following the incident, which caused substantial infrastructural damage. Fourteen homes were annihilated entirely by the landslide, whilst a further 20,000 experienced flooding up to roof level.
Attempts to offer relief to those most affected have been severely hampered due to a myriad of obstacles, including power outages, impassable routes blanketed in mud and debris, and the widespread devastation caused by the floodwater.
Despite preventative measures, Indonesia’s topography and climate continue to leave people vulnerable to flash floods and landslides, as torrential rains regularly strike the mountainous regions and floodplains where millions of Indonesians reside.