Floods and Landslides Devastate Indonesia, Leaving at Least 20 Dead

Jakarta – Rescue teams in western Indonesia worked tirelessly on Tuesday, employing heavy machinery to clear debris after floods and landslides struck over the weekend, claiming at least 20 lives, according to the national disaster agency.

In North Sumatra, five bodies were recovered from beneath thick mud and debris, bringing the total number of deaths in Karo district to 10, agency spokesperson Abdul Muhari confirmed on Tuesday.

“All the missing victims have been found dead,” Muhari said in a statement, but local officials warn that unreported victims could still be discovered.

The deadly floods and landslides began on Saturday following relentless heavy rains in four districts across northern Sumatra. Juspri Nadeak, disaster response chief in the hardest-hit Karo district, highlighted concerns that tourists visiting local hot springs might have been caught in the disaster.

“We are still clearing mud and debris and preparing for the possibility of finding more victims,” Nadeak told AFP.

In Deli Serdang district, another severely impacted area, four people have been confirmed dead, and search efforts continue for two missing individuals. Piles of mud, uprooted trees, and rocks have buried parts of the village, complicating rescue operations.

“The electricity is out, and there’s no mobile network, making it very challenging for rescue teams to communicate,” said Iman Sitorus, a local search and rescue agency representative. Heavy machinery has been deployed to aid the cleanup.

The confirmed death toll rose to 20 on Tuesday with the latest recoveries in Karo district. Victims have also been reported in South Tapanuli, Padang Lawas, and Deli Serdang districts.

Extreme weather events have increasingly affected Indonesia, with scientists linking their growing frequency and intensity to climate change.

Earlier this year, at least 67 lives were lost in West Sumatra when volcanic debris from Mount Marapi caused flash floods. A recent analysis by the World Weather Attribution group, comprising international climate scientists, suggests that human-driven climate change has doubled the likelihood of such drenching storms, including the recent rains in Indonesia and extreme flooding in Spain’s Valencia region earlier this month.