Floods and landslides hit Sorong, leaving 4 people dead and hundreds of cars stranded – West Papua, Indonesia

Four people lost their lives while three others were injured after floods and landslides hit Sorong in West Papua, Indonesia on Thursday night, July 16, 2020, the Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) confirmed. Hundreds of vehicles were trapped in floodwaters in Rawa Indah on Friday morning, July 17.

Three of the casualties were caused by a landslide, whereas one died due to electrocution, according to Sorong BPBD head Herlin Sasabone.

"The count of injured flood victims reaches three. The Sorong BPBD is still collecting data on the other likely injured people and the number of houses submerged by flooding and buried by the landslide," she stated.

Flooding swept through several roads, mainly in the Rawa Indah area, leaving hundreds of vehicles stuck on Friday, July 17. 

According to the Indonesian news agency Antara, there was a long queue of motorcycles and four-wheeled vehicles across the road. Some drivers even attempted to push their motorbikes in the middle of the flood.

Other affected individuals sought shelter in safer places while waiting for the flood to subside.

"I have tried passing by [with my motorbike] but the flow of the water was very fast," said one motorist. "I could not pass, so I chose to go back and look for the nearest [household] to rest while waiting for the flood to recede."

A Rawa Indah local said although the area experiences inundations every year during the rainy season, the current flooding is widespread and different from previous years.

"We expect the Sorong City government to be serious and pay attention to the problem of flooding, which has been a public complaint," he added.

Featured image credit: BNPB Indonesia