JAKARTA – At least 16 people have been confirmed dead and three others remain missing after catastrophic flash floods and landslides struck the Sitaro Islands Regency in Indonesia’s North Sulawesi province early Monday. Triggered by intense monsoon rains that began around 2:30 a.m. local time, overflowing rivers sent torrents of water, mud, and debris through residential areas while many residents were still asleep. The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) reported that the deluge severely impacted four districts on Siau Island, destroying or damaging nearly 150 homes and forcing over 680 people into emergency shelters located in local churches and public buildings.
Rescue operations, involving the military, police, and specialized search and rescue teams, have been hampered by severed communication lines and roads blocked by thick mud and uprooted trees. As floodwaters receded on Tuesday, teams recovered the bodies of 16 victims, while 25 others are being treated for various injuries. In response to the devastation, Sitaro District Chief Chyntia Ingrid Kalangit has declared a 14-day state of emergency to accelerate aid delivery and infrastructure repairs. This disaster follows a tragic December in Sumatra where floods claimed over 1,000 lives, and weather officials have warned that with the rainy season peaking in January and February, residents across Sulawesi and Java must remain on high alert for further extreme weather.
