Dozens were killed after flash floods ravaged East Timor and parts of Indonesia last Sunday.
The Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency also confirmed that 27 people are still missing, and at least nine are injured. A total of four sub-districts and seven villages were affected by the floods and landslides
AT LEAST 50 people have died after landslides and flash floods hit Timor Leste and Indonesia on Easter Sunday. Heavy rain in the areas caused widespread destruction, overflowing dams which submerged thousands of homes.
The gravely affected area in Indonesia was Flores Island, stretching all the way to neighboring nation Timor Leste. At least 50 people have been confirmed dead in Indonesia, with rescuers attempting to find more survivors.
Unfortunately, officials have warned that the death toll could continue to rise.
The Indonesian Disaster Mitigation Agency also confirmed that 27 people are still missing, and at least nine are injured. A total of four sub-districts and seven villages were affected by the floods and landslides.
Meanwhile in Timor Leste, at least 11 people were killed after the country’s capital, Dili, was hit by flooding. According to the Secretary of State for Civil Protection for Timor, Joaquim Jose Gusmao dos Reis Martins, the government is searching the areas impacted by the floods.
Those injured by the disaster have been evacuated to neighboring towns, healthcare centers, and hospitals that were unaffected. Government agencies are on high alert to try and save more people by searching the areas affected by the incident.
Rescuers are having a difficulty reaching the remote and worst-hit area of the East Flores regency, as the place is still experiencing heavy rains and strong waves.
The disaster happened in the early hours of Sunday, just before people woke up to celebrate Easter. Flores Island is a mostly Catholic town. Homes were covered in mud, while bridges and roads were destroyed.
Flash floods and landslides are common around the Indonesian archipelago during monsoon season, usually from November to March. However, deforestation is a major cause for landslides.
Currently, more than 125 million Indonesians live in areas that are at risk of landslides due to deforestation. Major reforestation efforts are needed to eliminate this risk, according to environmentalists. (MO)
Tags: #foreign, #TimorLeste, #floods