(Makassar) At least 15 people have been killed and dozens more are missing after flash floods that drowned in the mud hundreds of houses on the Indonesian island of Celebes, authorities announced on Tuesday.
Published on 14 July 2020 at 9 a.m. 15
France Media Agency
A rescue and search operation continued in search of missing persons, carried away by the muddy waves. After torrential rains, three rivers came out of their beds in the region of North Luwu (South of the island, province of South Sulawesi), said the local agency responsible for natural disasters.
“Residents have informed us of the disappearance of relatives. It concerns dozens of people in total, “Muslim Muchsin, the agency's official, told AFP.
Hundreds of houses and public facilities have been covered with mud over three to five meters in height. “We can just see the roofs of the houses from a distance,” added Muchsin.
About 2000 residents have taken refuge in temporary shelters, but floods and mud are hampering food distribution efforts, the agency said.
“We are now focusing on cleaning up debris that has submerged the road in order to provide access for logistics,” said Muchsin.
According to the regent of North Luwu, Indah Putri Indriani, 15 bodies were discovered on Tuesday by the rescue teams.
“According to the latest information I have received, only in the Radda district there are 56 missing, but the number could change because some villages are completely inaccessible, “said the regent, adding that his own office was covered in mud.
At the start of the year, torrential rains had caused floods in which nearly 70 people had perished in and around Jakarta, on the island of Java . It was the deadliest flood since 2013 in the Jakarta area.
