At least 10 people have been killed and dozens more are missing after heavy monsoon rains triggered floods and landslides across Indonesia’s Sumatra island, according to local authorities. Officials reported on Wednesday that rescue operations are ongoing in multiple provinces after several days of rainfall that began early in the week.
The National Police stated that continuous rain since Monday caused rivers in North Sumatra province to overflow, sending mud, rocks, and uprooted trees into villages in six separate regencies. Rescue efforts have been impeded by damaged roads, unstable slopes, and persistent downpours, which have made it difficult for teams to reach isolated communities.
The city of Sibolga was reported as the most affected area, where authorities confirmed the recovery of five bodies and three injured survivors. Search teams are continuing to look for four residents who remain missing in the coastal city.
In the neighboring regency of Central Tapanuli, landslides struck several homes, killing at least four members of one family, according to official reports. Flooding in the area also submerged nearly 2,000 houses and public buildings.
To the south, in the South Tapanuli regency, one resident was killed and another was injured by floods and falling trees. In the Mandailing Natal district, a bridge was destroyed, cutting off access for local communities, while 470 homes were reported to be inundated. On Nias island, officials said that mud and debris blocked a main road connecting several villages.
Sibolga police chief Eddy Inganta confirmed that emergency shelters have been opened and that authorities are urging residents living near unstable slopes to evacuate. He noted that six landslides in the area had damaged 17 houses and a cafe.
“Bad weather and mudslides hampered the rescue operation,” Inganta said, adding that continued rainfall could trigger further slope failures.
These events occurred as Indonesia’s National Disaster Mitigation Agency concluded a separate 10-day search operation in two districts of Central Java. Earlier storms there led to 38 confirmed deaths. Officials ended the search, citing dangerous ground conditions, with 13 people still listed as missing.
Seasonal rains, which typically occur between October and March in Indonesia, frequently cause floods and landslides in the archipelago nation.
