Landslides, flooding affect more than 45 000 people, Indonesia

Heavy rainfall across various parts of Indonesia triggered severe floods and deadly landslides over the past couple of days, affecting more than 45 000 people and killing at least 12.

Heavy rain in Bangli District of Bali Province started on February 8 with 145 mm (5.7 inches) within 24 hours. The rains continued during the evening of February 9 and triggered a landslide in Songan Village, Kintamani. The debris buried 5 houses and left 7 people dead and 4 injured.

On February 10, another landslide hit Awan Village and buried a house, killing 4 people. Another landslide occurred in Sukawana Village on February 11, leaving one person dead and one injured.

In North Sulawesi and West Nusa Tenggara provinces, flooding affected 45 000 people after heavy rain between February 6 and 11. BNPB said that 40 291 people were affected by flooding in Sumbawa Regency.

Heavy rain has also affected parts of Banten Province, Java Island, where rivers have overflowed causing flooding in Lebak and Pandeglang Regencies, according to the FloodList. In Lebak, the Ciliman River and its tributaries, Cisimeut, Cimadur and Cibinuangeun, have all overflowed on February 9, affecting 14 sub-districts and damaging 1 561 houses. The sub-district of Banjarsari was the worst affected, flood water was up to 1.5 meters (4.9 feet) deep in some areas.

In Pandeglang Regency, flooding damaged 3 671 houses and affected 9 611 people. Over 250 have been evacuated, according to BNPB. One of the worst-hit areas was the district of Sobang where 3 houses were destroyed by floods and landslides. In some areas flood water was 2 m (6.5 feet) deep.

Featured image: Flooding in Sumbawa, Indonesia – February 2017. Credit: Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, BNPB