Rescuers have found the body of a man who was buried under mud and rocks from flash floods and a landslide in a village on Indonesia’s Sumatra island. Eleven people are still missing. The incident occurred near Lake Toba in North Sumatra province, damaging houses, a church, a school, and a hotel. The government aims to develop Lake Toba as a tourist attraction. CTVNews reported
Flash Flood and Landslide in Indonesia Claims One Life and Leaves 11 Missing
MEDAN, Indonesia –
Rescuers have tragically discovered the lifeless body of a man who was buried under tons of mud and rocks following a devastating flash flood and landslide that swept through a hilly village on Sumatra island in Indonesia. The authorities have reported that 11 individuals are still unaccounted for, adding to the growing concern and urgency of the rescue efforts.
The disaster occurred on Friday night when heavy rainfall triggered a massive debris flow, consisting of mud, rocks, and trees, which cascaded down from a mountain. The debris eventually reached a river that overflowed, causing extensive damage to the mountainside villages situated near the popular tourist destination of Lake Toba in North Sumatra province.
Rescue teams, employing excavators, search dogs, and even their bare hands, have tirelessly worked to clear the rubble and debris in the worst-hit village, hoping to find survivors and recover the bodies of those who lost their lives. Sariman Sitorus, the spokesperson for the local Search and Rescue Agency, revealed that divers equipped with sonar detection devices have also been deployed to search for possible victims who might have been swept into Lake Toba.
Tragically, on Saturday evening, rescue workers discovered the mud-covered body of a hotel employee on the lakeside, approximately 500 meters away from the severely damaged Senior Bakara Hotel.
According to the National Disaster Management Agency, the flash floods and landslide have caused significant damage to at least 35 houses, a church, a school, and a hotel in the village of Simangulampe. As a result, around 55 families have been forced to evacuate to a temporary government shelter, while they await further assistance and support.
In Indonesia, seasonal rainfall from approximately October to March often leads to frequent flooding and landslides. The country, consisting of 17,000 islands, is home to millions of people who reside in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains, making them particularly vulnerable to such natural disasters.
One of the affected areas, Lake Toba, covering an area of 1,145 square kilometers, is a renowned tourist attraction on Sumatra island. Formed from an ancient super volcano, Lake Toba is among the ten breathtaking natural wonders in Indonesia that the government aims to develop as key destinations for international tourists.
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