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Torrential rain on Saturday evening triggered flash floods,
landslides, and cold lava flow - a mud-like mixture of volcanic
ash, rock debris and water - in three districts in West Sumatra
province, Abdul Malik, chief of the provincial rescue team, told
Reuters.
The cold lava flow, known in Indonesia as a lahar, came from
Mount Marapi, one of Sumatra's most active volcanoes.
In December, more than 20 people were killed after Marapi
erupted. A series of eruptions has followed since.
"The heavy rain swept materials such as ash and large rocks from
the Marapi volcano," said Abdul Malik, who later added in a
statement that 43 people had died and 15 remained missing.
"Cold lava flow and flash floods have always been threats to us
recently. But the problem is, it always happens late at night
until dawn," he said.
Abdul said around 400 personnel, including rescuers, police, and
military, were deployed to search for the missing people on
Monday, helped by at least eight excavators and drones.
The national disaster and management agency BNPB said in a
statement almost 200 houses were damaged and 72 hectares (178
acres) of lands, including rice fields, were affected. At least
159 people from Agam district were evacuated to nearby schools.
Footage shared by BNPB showed roads and rice fields covered by
mud. Video also showed the wreckage of damaged homes and
buildings, while the floods brought logs and large rocks into
settlements.
Eko Widodo, a 43-year-old survivor, said: "The flooding was
sudden and the river became blocked which resulted in the flow
of water everywhere and it was out of control."
(Reporting by Aidil Ichlas in Tanah Datar and Ananda Teresia in
Jakarta, Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Bernadette Baum)
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