At least 14 individuals lost their lives in landslides on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, as confirmed by the country’s disaster mitigation agency on Sunday.
The landslides, caused by heavy rains, struck two villages in the Tana Toraja region of South Sulawesi.
Abdul Muhari, the agency’s spokesperson, reported that the landslides destroyed four homes in addition to claiming the lives of 14 people.
Rescue operations are currently underway to locate and assist those who are still missing.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate missing residents, although specific figures regarding the number of individuals unaccounted for have not been provided.
The agency provided photos showcasing the devastation in the affected villages, depicting rescuers combing through the debris in search of survivors.
Homes were flattened, reduced to mere planks of wood and concrete. Rescuers faced challenges due to inclement weather and damaged roads, hindering the evacuation process.
Tana Toraja, situated in the mountainous region of central Sulawesi Island, is approximately 300 kilometers away from the provincial capital, Makassar.
Last month, Sumatra island witnessed floods and landslides that claimed the lives of at least 26 people, leading to the destruction of hundreds of homes and the displacement of thousands.
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