Flash floods in Sulawesi claimed 16 lives and forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes. Landslides have caused states of emergency, showing the effects of climate change.
Local flash floods have hit Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, killing at least 16 and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes, authorities there said on Tuesday. This was pointed out by the DPA agency, writes TASR.
- The province of North Sulawesi was hit by flash floods caused by heavy rains.
- The number of victims rose to sixteen, hundreds of people were evacuated.
Floods hit the volcanic archipelago of Siau Tagulandang Biaro after heavy rains on Monday triggered torrents of water, mud and debris, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency confirmed.
Resettlement of families
According to him, more than 140 families were displaced and moved to safer places. A state of emergency was declared in the region so that local authorities could mobilize additional resources and speed up the delivery of aid.
Indonesia is often hit by floods, landslides and other natural disasters, especially during the rainy season, which usually peaks between December and February, DPA explains.
Impact of climate change
According to scientists, climate change has intensified the amount of precipitation in some parts of the country, which has increased the risk of flash floods, especially in mountainous and deforested areas, the agency adds.
