Heavy rains in West Java flood 172 villages, leave 10 dead in Sukabumi, Indonesia
At least 10 people are dead, two are missing, and more than 1 000 homes in 172 villages have been submerged following a week of heavy rains in Java, Indonesia, local officials confirmed on December 9, 2024.
Image credit: NASA Terra/MODIS. Acquired on December 5, 2024
Heavy rains affecting Java since last week have caused rivers to overflow, flooding 172 villages in Sukabumi district with water, mud, and debris. Landslides, rocks, and fallen trees have buried homes and swept away vehicles and livestock. Over 3 000 people have been evacuated to temporary shelters.
Lt. Col. Yudi Hariyanto, who leads the rescue command post in Sukabumi, recovered 10 bodies, including 3 children, from the worst-hit villages of Tegalbuleud, Simpenan, and Ciemas on December 9. The search continued for 2 villagers reported missing.
“Torrential rains have caused rivers to burst their banks, tearing through more than 170 villages in Sukabumi district of West Java province, as mud, rocks, and trees tumbled down mountainside hamlets,” Hariyanto added.
The disaster has hit Sukabumi district in West Java, forcing thousands to evacuate and causing severe damage to roads, buildings, and farmland.
The Disaster Management Agency reported the destruction of 31 bridges and 81 roads in Sukabumi district.
Floodwaters submerged 1 170 homes up to the roofs and caused damage to an additional 3 300 buildings. Rice fields spanning 539 hectares (1 332 acres) were destroyed, posing a severe threat to local food security.
Seasonal rains, occurring from October to March, frequently lead to flooding and landslides in Indonesia. The mountainous terrain and fertile plains of the country place millions of residents at risk.
Heavy rainfall caused flash floods and landslides in North Sumatra, killing 20 people and leaving 2 missing in November 2024. A landslide also hit a tourist bus, killing 9.
References:
1 Landslides, flash floods hit Indonesia’s Java island, 10 dead and 2 missing – abc news – December 9, 2024
Rishika holds a Master’s in International Studies from Stella Maris College, Chennai, India, where she earned a gold medal, and an MCA from the University of Mysore, Karnataka, India. Previously, she served as a Research Assistant at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, India. During her tenure, she contributed as a Junior Writer for Europe Monitor on the Global Politics website and as an Assistant Editor for The World This Week. Her work has also been published in The Hindu newspaper, showing her expertise in global affairs. Rishika is also a recipient of the Women Empowerment Award at the district level in Haryana, India, in 2022.
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