Floods
The death toll from flash floods and chilly lava flow from a volcano in western Indonesia over the weekend has grown to 41, with 17 more still missing, according to a local disaster agency official.
On Saturday evening, hours of torrential rain led enormous volcanic rocks to flow down one of Indonesia’s most active volcanos onto two districts on Sumatra island, flooding highways, homes, and mosques.
“As of last night, we have registered 37 dead victims… But since this morning, the total has risen to 41 (dead),” Ilham Wahab, a West Sumatra disaster mitigation agency officer, said on Monday.
Rescuers were looking for 17 persons who remained missing, three in Agam district and 14 in Tanah Datar, both of which were severely impacted by the storm and home to hundreds of thousands of people, he said.
West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah told reporters on Monday that approximately 130 people were evacuated to an elementary school in Agam, while over 2,000 people were evacuated to various locations in Tanah Datar. Roads in the districts were converted into rivers, destroying mosques and homes.
Heavy rains swamped areas with muddy floodwaters and washed automobiles into a nearby river, while volcanic ash and big rocks rolled down Mount Marapi.
Cold lava, also known as lahar, is volcanic material such as ash, sand, and pebbles transported down a volcano’s slopes by rain.
Also Read: Flash Floods and Lava Plumes Kill at Least a Dozen People in Indonesia
