Six People Buried In Landslide In Indonesia

indonesia-map.jpg" alt="Foto: voices.nationalgeographic.com" width="600" height="443" /> Foto: voices.nationalgeographic.com

West Sumatera, 1 Jumadal Awwal 1437/February 9, 2016 (MINA) –  Six people were buried in a landslide caused by incessant rains that also blocked the road between Payakumbuh and Pekanbaru in West Sumatra, the National Disaster Mitigation Agency said on Monday as Antara News reported.

“Incessant rains since Friday (Feb 5) have caused flooding and landslides in several areas in the city of Solok, districts of Agam, Solok Selatan and 50 Koto,” the agencys spokesman, Sutopo Nugroho, said in a release.

He said floods and landslides that have affected three sub-districts in Solok Selatan were caused by overflowing Batang Bangko, Batang Suliti and Batang Lolo rivers.

The floods and landslides have snapped the road connectivity between Muaralabuh and Padang Aro Kerinci.

Also Read: Indonesia Ready to Support Gaza Reconstruction After Hamas-Israel Ceasefire

Six people and a house were buried in the landslide that occurred at 20:00 hours in the district on Saturday.

“Some 2,000 homes were submerged up to 1.5 meter deep water and 100 hectares of paddy fields were also inundated in water up to a meter high. Two bridges collapsed and traffic between Payakumbuh and Pekanbaru was totally cut. Rain is still continuing as of now,” he said.

The Batang Lembang river overflowed, causing flooding in the village of Koto Panjang and also Kampai Tabu Karambie, Solok city, inundating 36 homes.

In the district of Agam, he said, a landslide occurred at 02:00 on Sunday blocking a section of the road between Bukittinggi and Lubuk Sikaping, but the road is now clear for use.

Also Read: Indonesian Foreign Minister to Visit North Korea, First Since 2013

Flooding also occurred in Nagari Pangkalan in the sub-district of Pangkalan Nagari in the district of 50 Koto, Sutopo said.

As many as 100 houses have been inundated in waters up to a meter deep while one person was carried away by water currents though he was later saved.

“The agency, in cooperation with the military, the police, the Red Cross and the National Rescue Agency and community members, has made an inventory of the damages and also provided emergency assistance.

Command posts have been set to provide food to those affected by the floods and landslides, he said.(T/R04/R03)

Also Read: Indonesian Government Refuses to Issue Visas for Israeli Gymnasts

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)

Also Read: AWG Rejects Israeli Athletes’ Arrival: Sports Must Not Legitimize Zionism