Jakarta [Indonesia], April 15: At least 14 people have died and another is missing after torrential rains triggered landslides on Indonesia's Sulawesi Island, an official said on Sunday.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Management Agency, said that four houses in Tana Toraja district of South Sulawesi province were buried in the landslides, injuring two villagers.
Heavy rain had pounded unstable soil in the region shortly before midnight on Saturday. Rescuers are still searching for a missing villager in the hilly South Makale village, Muhari said.
However, rescue efforts are being hampered by the lack of electricity, the highly intense rainfall that continued to pound the region and landslides blocking roads to the remote villages in Tana Toraja's highlands.
According to local police chief Gunardi Mundu, mud fell from surrounding hills onto four houses in Tana Toraja just before midnight on Saturday, burying parts of the village. He said a family gathering was being held in one of the houses when the disaster hit.
Indonesia's rainy season began in January, with the meteorological agency forecasting a peak within the first quarter of 2024.
Poor weather conditions and damage to roads in the affected areas complicated emergency response efforts, making it difficult for vehicles to evacuate victims, the disaster mitigation agency's spokesperson said.
Indonesia's Tempo newspaper said the rescuers urgently needed heavy equipment to help clear roads for ambulances to evacuate the victims.
Source: Qatar Tribune