Sulawesi, Indonesia - A devastating series of landslides on Sulawesi Island has left a grim toll, with 18 individuals confirmed dead and two still missing, officials reported on Monday.

The search and rescue operation unfolded tragically as teams discovered approximately 14 bodies in Makale village on Sunday afternoon, with an additional four found in South Makale, according to Mexianus Bekabel, chief of Makassar Search and Rescue.

Sulaiman Malia, head of the Tana Toraja district Disaster Management Agency, lamented the challenges faced by rescuers in their quest to locate the missing individuals amidst adverse weather conditions. "We are still looking for two more victims, but fog and drizzle made the search difficult and officers in the field were overwhelmed," Malia stated on Monday.

The landslides, triggered by torrential rainfall, engulfed four houses just before midnight on Saturday in the Tana Toraja district of South Sulawesi province, revealed local police chief Gunardi Mundu. Tragically, one of the houses was hosting a family gathering when disaster struck.

In response to the catastrophe, a coordinated effort involving dozens of soldiers, police, and volunteers commenced in the remote hillside villages of Makale and South Makale. Despite the challenges, rescuers managed to extract two injured individuals, including an 8-year-old girl, who were promptly transported to a nearby hospital.

However, the rescue mission has been impeded by downed communication lines, inclement weather, and unstable terrain, noted Muhari, a spokesperson for the operation.

Tana Toraja, renowned for its cultural heritage and tourist attractions, including traditional houses and cave burials, remains in mourning as the community grapples with this tragic loss.

Indonesia, a nation vulnerable to seasonal downpours, frequently experiences landslides and floods, particularly in its mountainous regions and flood-prone areas. With millions residing in these vulnerable locales across the archipelago, the threat of natural disasters remains a constant concern.

BOB Post