Torrential rainfall since Saturday, June 18, 2016, has triggered severe flooding and mud avalanches across Central Java, Indonesia. At least 24 people have been killed, with 26 still missing, officials said Sunday.
Thousands of homes have been inundated in Central Java as flash floods caused by heavy rain swept across the province. "Initial data... shows the impact of the floods and landslides in Central Java has caused 24 deaths, with 26 others still missing," disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said in a statement.
Floods and landslides have occurred in seven regencies, namely Banjarnegara, Banyumas, Karanganyar, Kebumen, Purworejo, Wonogiri and Wonosobo and in Surakarta.
Drivers were swept off roads and dozens of homes were destroyed by fast-moving walls of mud, rock, and water.
Purworejo district was the hardest hit with the most people killed in numerous villages. 11 people died there and 26 are reported missing. A landslide swept through the district's Caok village burying homes and leaving five people dead.
Evakuasi korban tanah longsor di Dusun Caok Desa Karangrejo Kec Loano Kab. Purworejo. Ada 5 korban tertimbun. pic.twitter.com/Lh0RPbnzLi
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_BNPB) June 19, 2016
Rumah Walikota Solo di Pucangan terendam banjir. pic.twitter.com/vNIJOEnvnN
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_BNPB) June 19, 2016
Petugas lakukan evakuasi korban banjir di Kec Kemangkon Kab Purbalingga Jateng. pic.twitter.com/Rbeut7SuKU
— Sutopo Purwo Nugroho (@Sutopo_BNPB) June 18, 2016
In another district, people were clearing debris from a small landslide that had blocked the road when a bigger landslide hit them. "Nine bodies were retrieved," Nugroho said.
"Search and rescue crews are combing villages for the 26 still missing. Temporary shelters have been erected to help those evacuated from the disaster zone," Sutopo added.
Heavy rains and flooding also hit West Sumatra on Thursday and Friday, June 16 and 17, killing one person and displacing thousands. The floods there have since subsided.
Although June is usually relatively dry in the region, meteorologists warn rain is expected in late June and early July in at least 5 provinces.
24 hours of rainfall accumulation by 03:00 UTC on June 19, 2016. Credit: NASA/JAXA GPM, Google.
The animation below shows rainfall accumulation in Asia between June 12 and 19. Notice heavy rainfall accumulation in the Bay of Bengal and southern China.
Featured image: Flooding in Central Java - June 19, 2016. Credit: BNPB
