At least sixteen people have died and another seven remain missing following flooding and landslides over the weekend on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, Indonesia’s National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) reported on Monday (November 25). . Flash floods and landslides affected four districts in North Sumatra province.
Karo district recorded the highest number of casualties, with five people found dead and another five still missing after a river suddenly flooded on Saturday. The other victims are spread across three other districts of the province: Deli Serdang, South Tapanuli and Padang Lawas.
Landslides worsened by deforestation
According to BNPB, Karo and Deli Serdang districts have already been affected several times this year by flash floods and landslides. Landslides occur regularly across the vast archipelago during the rainy season, between November and April, and the problem has been worsened in some areas by deforestation.
In July, a landslide on the island of Sulawesi (Celebes), near an illegal gold mine, left at least 27 dead and 15 missing.
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