Rescue teams in Indonesia have recovered 16 bodies and are continuing their search for missing individuals after flash floods and landslides struck villages in North Sumatra over the weekend. Torrential rain caused rivers to overflow, triggering massive mudslides that swept through four mountainous districts in the province. Authorities confirmed that six people are still missing.
The deadly floods and landslides, which took place in several areas including the Semangat Gunung resort in Karo district, washed away homes and destroyed farmlands. Local police, soldiers, and rescue workers, aided by excavators and farm equipment, have been working tirelessly to search for victims amid the rubble.
The worst-hit area was a resort town in Karo district, where six bodies were recovered after a landslide buried two houses and a cottage late Sunday. In South Tapanuli district, flash floods swept away at least 10 homes and left about 150 buildings damaged. Two bodies were pulled from the river, and several people were reported injured.
The flash floods also took lives in Deli Serdang and Padang Lawas districts. In Harang Julu village, a landslide killed four members of a family, including two children. Rescuers managed to extract survivors from the village, where families gathered in grief as the mud-covered bodies of victims were recovered.
This disaster highlights the annual risk of flooding and landslides that Indonesia faces between October and March, especially in mountainous regions. Last year, similar weather events caused the deaths of 12 people, and several remain missing. The affected regions, including Lake Toba, a popular tourist destination, are prone to natural disasters due to their geography and the dense population living in vulnerable areas.
