At least 14 people have died after being swept away by flash floods in northern Indonesia, authorities said Tuesday, while search operations continue for four people still missing.
Heavy rains early Monday morning caused flash floods on Siau Island, in the Siau Tagulandang Biaro region, officials said Nuriadin Gumeleng, spokesperson for the local rescue agency. Sixteen rescuers were deployed for the search, while 18 people were injured, according to initial reports.
The main roads in the affected areas remained covered in rocks, debris, and a thick layer of mud on Tuesday, complicating access to the disaster-stricken towns. Rescue teams continued to gather information from residents to determine if there were any other missing persons.
In total, at least 444 people were evacuated to local schools and churches, according to Indonesia's National Disaster Management Agency. Construction equipment was deployed to clear roads blocked by mudslides and debris.
The floods also destroyed hundreds of homes and public buildings, the governor of North Sulawesi said. Yulius Selvanushighlighting the extent of the material damage in the region.
These floods are occurring in the middle of Indonesia's rainy season. According to the national meteorological agency, the islands of Java, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua are expected to experience peak rainfall in January and February, increasing the risk of flooding and landslides in the coming weeks.
