North sulawesi: At least 14 people were killed after being swept away by flash floods in Indonesia's North Sulawesi, an official said, as the search for the missing continued.
According to Emirates News Agency, heavy rain early on Monday triggered flash floods on the island of Siau, located in the region of Siau Tagulandang, as reported by Nuriadin Gumeleng, a spokesperson for the local rescue agency. Sixteen rescuers have been deployed to search for four people who remain missing, Gumeleng added, noting that 18 people have sustained injuries.
Furthermore, at least 444 people have been evacuated to local schools and churches following the flash floods, as stated by the country disaster mitigation agency spokesperson, Abdul Muhari. Indonesia's weather agency has warned that the islands of Java, Sulawesi, Maluku, and Papua are expected to experience peak wet-season conditions during January and February, increasing the risk of flooding.