Key Takeaways
- At least 34 people killed, 16 missing in South Sulawesi landslides.
- Torrential rain triggered mudslides that buried at least 30 houses.
- Over 100 rescuers, including police and military, are searching for survivors.
A series of devastating landslides and floods in central Indonesia has killed at least 34 people, with 16 others still missing, officials confirmed on Monday.
The disaster struck two villages in the Tana Toraja district of South Sulawesi province after heavy rains on Saturday. Local rescue chief Mexianus Bekabel stated that the landslides buried at least 30 homes.
“We have evacuated 34 dead bodies and there are 16 people still missing under the landslide,” Bekabel told AFP.
Massive Rescue Operation Underway
More than 100 personnel are involved in the ongoing search and rescue mission. Bekabel confirmed that teams, aided by police and military, are still scouring the debris for the missing individuals.
Images released by Indonesia’s national disaster mitigation agency (BNPB) show the scale of the destruction. Rescue workers are using excavators to clear massive piles of mud and debris from hillsides. Other photos reveal houses severely damaged and a car almost entirely submerged in mud.
A Recurring Seasonal Threat
Landslides and flooding are frequent hazards in Indonesia during the annual rainy season. The archipelago’s mountainous terrain and intense rainfall make many areas vulnerable.
This tragedy follows other recent disasters. In March, a landslide on Sumatra island killed at least 26 people. In 2022, torrential rain triggered a landslide at an illegal gold mine on Sulawesi, claiming about 24 lives.
