Heavy monsoon rains have caused severe flooding and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra island, leaving at least 10 dead and several others missing, local authorities said.
Persistent downpours since Monday forced rivers in North Sumatra province to overflow, carrying mud, uprooted trees, and debris through villages across six regencies. In Sibolga, the city hardest hit, rescue teams have recovered five bodies and three injured residents, while four people remain unaccounted for.
Central Tapanuli also suffered extensive damage, with landslides destroying multiple homes and killing four family members. Nearly 2,000 houses and public buildings were submerged by floodwaters. South Tapanuli reported one death and one injury after falling trees struck residents.
Infrastructure damage has disrupted access in several areas. In Mandailing Natal district, a bridge collapsed, isolating communities and flooding 470 homes. On Nias island, mudslides blocked the main road linking villages, hampering relief operations.
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Authorities have opened emergency shelters in Sibolga, urging residents near unstable slopes to evacuate. Police chief Eddy Inganta warned that ongoing rainfall could trigger additional landslides, complicating rescue efforts. Six landslides have already flattened 17 houses and a cafe.
The floods follow a separate disaster in Central Java, where storms killed 38 people earlier this month. A 10-day search for victims in Cilacap and Banjarnegara was halted due to unsafe conditions, with 13 people still missing.
Heavy seasonal rains between October and March frequently cause flooding and landslides in Indonesia, particularly in areas where millions live on floodplains or steep, landslide-prone terrain.