11 Killed, Dozens Missing As Landslide Hits Indonesia

The country's disaster service reported that landslides and severe rains on one of Indonesia's remotest islands on Monday left scores of people missing and eleven dead. According to the most recent information from local authorities in the Riau Islands, "11 body bags have been filled," and "50 persons are reported to be missing," according to National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari on Kompas. On Serasan island, between Borneo and mainland Malaysia, pictures given by the agency indicated that mud and debris from the landslides had completely buried and flattened the buildings that were close to a cliff. It was possible to see pieces of shredded metal roofing. Speaking on behalf of the Riau Islands Disaster Mitigation Agency, Junainah said that the communication network was disrupted in the impacted region. making it challenging to obtain current information. "The weather can change suddenly. Now, the wind is strong and the waves are high "explained the official, who goes by one name like many Indonesians do.

Abdul Muhari noted that it would be challenging for rescue personnel to reach the remote island. By speed boat, it often takes five hours, he added. To expedite the supply delivery procedure, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency will send a helicopter tomorrow. In certain locations, deforestation makes Indonesia more prone to landslides during the rainy season. Prolonged heavy rain has also caused floods in several parts of the archipelago nation. In the Indonesian portion of Borneo's Banjar region, flooding has submerged more than 17,000 homes and interrupted life for a month. Massive floods were caused by severe rainfall that also hit neighbouring Malaysia. Over 41,000 people were evacuated last week, and there have been at least four fatalities. After heavy rains that caused landslides, Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, and other adjacent cities had some of their worst floods in years in 2020. In the catastrophe, at least 67 individuals perished.