Gemma Holliani Cahya, Jakarta – Two residents of Lebo Village in Sangihe Island, North Sulawesi, were killed after being washed away in a flash flood on Friday morning.
A flash flood and landslide struck the village at 5:30 a.m., killing Lahode Mangape, 83, and Armand, 18, injuring several others and damaging multiple buildings, including houses.
"There is a possibility that the number of injured villagers and damaged buildings will increase. The rain has eased today. Local administration officials, military personnel, police and volunteers are helping the evacuation process and cleaning away debris carried by the flood and landslide," National Disaster and Mitigation Agency (BNPB) spokesman Agus Wibowo said in a press release on Saturday.
According to the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), most parts of the country will face high chances of extreme weather for at least a week, including North Sulawesi.
The weather conditions are triggered by local and regional weather phenomena, including an Asian monsoon that increased rainfall across Indonesia.
Massive floods in Greater Jakarta and Banten have at least killed 53 people as of Saturday, according to data compiled by the BNPB. (hol)