Jakarta, Jan 6, (dpa/GNA) – Flash floods swept through Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province, killing at least 16 people and forcing hundreds of residents to flee their homes, authorities said on Tuesday.
The floods struck the remote Siau Tagulandang Biaro Islands, a volcanic archipelago, after heavy rainfall on Monday triggered torrents of water, mud and debris, said Abdul Muhari, a spokesman for the National Disaster Management Agency.
More than 140 families were displaced and moved to safer locations, he added.
A state of emergency was declared, to enable local authorities to mobilize additional resources and speed up the delivery of aid.
Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, is highly vulnerable to floods, landslides and other natural disasters, particularly during the rainy season, which typically peaks between December and February.
Scientists say climate change has intensified rainfall in parts of the country, increasing the risk of sudden flooding, especially in mountainous and deforested areas.
GNA