PADANG, Indonesia. The aftermath of torrential rains on Indonesia’s Sumatra island has left a trail of destruction, with at least 26 people dead and 11 others still missing due to flash floods and landslides, according to officials on Monday.
The catastrophe unfolded as monsoon rains deluged nine districts and cities in West Sumatra province since Thursday, leading to rising rivers and inundated regions. The situation turned dire late Friday when a significant mudslide triggered by the heavy downpour breached a river, unleashing devastation upon mountainside villages in the Pesisir Selatan district.
Rescue operations faced considerable challenges, grappling with power outages, severed bridges, and roads rendered impassable by thick layers of mud and debris, as reported by the National Disaster Management Agency.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the agency, confirmed the grim toll, stating that rescuers had recovered additional bodies primarily from the hardest-hit areas in Pesisir Selatan and the neighboring Padang Pariaman district, elevating the death toll to 26. Landslides buried at least 14 houses, while two villagers sustained injuries, and 11 individuals remained unaccounted for as search efforts continued.
The monsoon onslaught submerged over 37,000 houses and structures in West Sumatra province alone, causing the loss of at least three houses to flash floods and damage to 666 others. Infrastructure bore the brunt of the calamity, with 26 bridges, 45 mosques, and 25 schools suffering damage, while 13 roads and two irrigation systems were destroyed. Furthermore, vast swathes of agricultural land, encompassing 113 hectares of rice fields and 300 square meters of plantations, succumbed to the deluge.
The relentless fury of heavy rains, triggering landslides and flash floods, underscores the perpetual threat faced by Indonesia, an archipelago nation comprising over 17,000 islands. Millions of residents inhabit mountainous terrains or reside in close proximity to floodplains, making them particularly vulnerable to the vagaries of nature’s wrath.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
