1 killed, 7 missing as flash floods strike Indonesia’s West Java

JAKARTA: Flash floods and landslides struck Sukabumi Regency in Indonesia’s West Java province on early Friday, resulting in one fatality and leaving seven others missing, according to an official.

Hadi Rahmat Hardjasasmita, spokesman for the West Java Regional Disaster Management and Mitigation Agency, reported that heavy rainfall began at approximately 17:00 Jakarta time on Thursday and intensified.

This downpour triggered the flash floods shortly after midnight.

“At about 03:00 a.m. on Friday, we began evacuating residents to village office buildings,” he told Xinhua. “Seven people are missing and are currently being searched for, while one person has been confirmed dead,” he added.

The flash floods destroy one bridge, and landslides buried roads in several areas.

However, according to Hardjasasmita, heavy machinery has since cleared the debris from the roads.

Regarding the missing individuals, Desiana Kartika Bahari, head of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office, said that search and rescue operations are underway.

Sukabumi Regency falls under the jurisdiction of the Jakarta Search and Rescue Office.

The country’s Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency has issued warnings about extreme weather conditions this month, with the peak expected between March 11 and March 20.

-Xinhua