Flash floods and landslides wreak havoc on Sumatra, claiming 19 lives with 7 still missing, according to local authorities. Torrential rains unleashed chaos in Pesisir Selatan regency, West Sumatra province, compelling over 46,000 residents to seek refuge in temporary shelters.

Doni Gusrizal, acting head of the Pesisir Selatan disaster mitigation agency, confirmed the rising toll, updating the earlier count of 10 fatalities. He cited challenges in rescue operations due to debris obstructing the area.

"The scale of the floods' impact is unprecedented. Our rescue efforts are hindered by blocked roads," Doni remarked.

As of Saturday, power outages persisted in various parts of Pesisir Selatan. The devastation included the burial of 14 houses in landslides, inundation of over 20,000 residences, and the collapse of eight bridges, as per the national disaster mitigation agency.

Meanwhile, in Padang Pariaman regency, also in West Sumatra, heavy rainfall between Thursday and Friday led to overflowing rivers, resulting in floods and a landslide, claiming at least three lives, as reported by the local disaster mitigation agency.

Indonesia's susceptibility to landslides during the rainy season is compounded by deforestation, exacerbating the situation. Previous incidents, like the December landslide and floods near Lake Toba on Sumatra, underscore the ongoing threat, with at least two casualties reported.

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