Fifteen lives have been claimed by the devastating landslides and floods that ravaged South Sulawesi, according to the country’s disaster agency. The calamity, which unfolded early Friday morning in Luwu regency, destroyed numerous homes and infrastructure, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.
Abdul Muhari, spokesperson for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), reported that 14 residents lost their lives due to the deluge of floods and landslides in Luwu regency alone. More than 100 houses sustained severe damage, with 42 wholly swept away by the force of nature. Furthermore, the catastrophe significantly harmed four roads and one bridge, exacerbating the region’s precarious situation.
The aftermath prompted urgent evacuation efforts, with over 100 individuals seeking refuge in mosques or with relatives. The plight extended to over 1,300 families, compelling authorities to launch comprehensive evacuation initiatives to ensure their safety.
Sadly, this catastrophe is not an isolated incident. Elsewhere in South Sulawesi, floods claimed the life of one individual and injured two others on the same fateful Friday, as reported by Abdul in a subsequent statement. This grim reality underscores the region’s vulnerability to natural disasters, exacerbated by deforestation and climatic anomalies.
The tragedy in South Sulawesi adds to several recent calamities across Indonesia. In March, Sumatra island bore witness to flash floods and landslides that resulted in the loss of at least 30 lives, with numerous others still unaccounted for. Similarly, a catastrophic landslide and flooding incident near Lake Toba on Sumatra in December claimed the lives of at least two individuals, underscoring the nation’s susceptibility to extreme weather events.
Experts have attributed these increasingly frequent and severe disasters to the effects of climate change, warning of the heightened risks faced by Indonesia during its rainy seasons. As communities grapple with the aftermath of these tragedies, urgent measures are imperative to mitigate future risks and safeguard vulnerable populations from the perils of natural disasters.
